26th November 2005

Racist attitudes still flourishing in Scotland

Millions of Scots still harbour racist views despite a long-running campaign to change attitudes, according to new research published yesterday.

A Scottish Executive study found that more than a third of Scots (38 per cent) do not believe it is racist to use the terms "paki" or "chinky", and 14 per cent think it is not racist to physically attack people from other ethnic groups.

The study did show some signs of improvement from previous years - fewer Scots think it is acceptable to verbally abuse asylum seekers (21 per cent this year, down from 25 per cent last year ) - but the overall picture is still of a country with serious problems.

The survey complements the Executive's multi-media advertising campaign, One Scotland, Many Cultures, which has been running for several years. Ministers wanted to know what success, if any, the campaign was having in changing attitudes to race in Scotland.

While the survey found there had been a "considerable shift" in attitudes, there was a danger that the positive messages of the advertising campaign were hiding the real extent of the problem.

There has been a 70 per cent rise in racist attacks in Scotland since 1999, partly due to a worsening of community relations after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.

This year's survey was done before the London bombings in July and ministers are aware that racist attitudes may rise again when the research is completed again next year.

"This makes it even more important that we continue to challenge racism and fascism wherever and whenever it occurs."

Among the main findings of the survey were that 21 per cent of people believe it is justifiable to verbally attack asylum seekers who get housing and benefits in Scotland, down from 25 per cent last year.

Some 71 per cent believe people from ethnic backgrounds living in Scotland should do more to fit in with the Scottish way of life, up from 67 per cent last year.

Some 56 per cent believe that people from different ethnic or cultural backgrounds living in Scotland expect too much help from the government, down 6 per cent on last year, and 76 per cent believe people from other cultural or ethnic backgrounds can be racist in their attitudes towards Scots, up 5 per cent.

And 31 per cent believe there is a real danger of race riots occurring soon in Scotland, down from 38 per cent last year, with 14 per cent not believing it is racist to assault someone from another ethnic or cultural background, up 5 per cent.

No-one from the Commission for Racial Equality was willing to comment on the report yesterday, insisting that they would need time to study it before being able to make any proper judgements about it.

However, opposition politicians said more had to be done to try to reverse racist attitudes in Scotland.

MSP Sandra White, SNP, said: "The amount of people who still believe racist behaviour is acceptable in Scotland is completely unacceptable. We must all work together to help change the racist attitudes which still exist and instead embrace Scotland's vibrant multi-cultural society."

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said: "We are clear about the need to challenge racism, and we know it is still a problem in Scotland.

"That's why our recent Race Equality Review set out a programme of new measures to tackle disadvantage and discrimination in Scotland to make race equality a reality for everyone."

Source: The Scotsman