Election 2015: Scuffles as Jim Murphy campaigns

  • Published
Figure caption,

Jim Murphy was confronted by protesters in Glasgow

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy and comedian Eddie Izzard were heckled by opponents during general election campaigning in Glasgow.

There were scuffles involving Labour Party supporters and their opponents in the city centre.

Protesters, who played loud music and shouted "Red Tories out", drowned out Mr Murphy as he tried to speak.

The protest was organised by Sean Clerkin, who described his group as "anti-austerity campaigners".

He told the BBC that details of the event had been passed to him by a disillusioned member of the Labour Party in East Renfrewshire.

Democratic process

The veteran campaigner said only one of those involved in his group was a member of the SNP, although he personally planned to vote for the party because of its call for increased public spending.

Mr Murphy said the protest was evidence that the SNP was trying to disrupt the democratic process, while Mr Izzard condemned the "violent emotion".

Demonstrators interviewed by the BBC denied they were there on behalf of the SNP and the party said it had nothing to do with the protests.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon condemned the scenes but said they had "nothing to do with the SNP".

She added: "We should all behave in a way in this general election that does credit to Scotland."

Jim Murphy came face-to-face with protester Sean ClerkinImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Jim Murphy came face-to-face with protester Sean Clerkin

Jim Murphy was drowned out by protesters chanting 'Red Tories Out'Image source, PA
Image caption,

Jim Murphy was drowned out by protesters chanting 'Red Tories Out'

Jim Murphy was joined in Glasgow by comedian Eddie IzzardImage source, PA
Image caption,

Jim Murphy was joined in Glasgow by comedian Eddie Izzard

Some of the protesters were waving SNP leaflets, while Mr Murphy was branded a "traitor" and a "warmonger".

The Scottish Labour leader said: "This sort of aggressive nationalism should have no place in our election. We've got a few days until we can kick David Cameron out of office, a few days to change our country forever and we won't be silenced by this form of aggressive nationalism, it's anti-democratic."

He added: "This isn't the type of Scotland we want."

Mr Izzard said: "It's ok having different opinions, but everyone should be able to put their opinion forward. This aggressive, this violent emotion, why violence? Don't have violence, we should just put our point of view forward and then everyone makes their choice on Thursday."

In other election news, Ms Sturgeon said it was "unlikely" her party would win every seat in Scotland.

It comes after some opinion polls suggested the party could be set for a clean sweep of seats across Scotland on Thursday.

'Scotland's voice'

Speaking as she campaigned in Greenock, Ms Sturgeon said: "The number of seats we win will be determined entirely by what the people of Scotland want.

"The more seats we win, the more power and influence Scotland will have, the louder Scotland's voice will be."

Ms Sturgeon also reiterated her threat to vote down a budget proposed by a minority Labour government.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was in Greenock
Image caption,

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was in Greenock

Ruth Davidson was campaigning in Ayrshire
Image caption,

Ruth Davidson was campaigning in Ayrshire

Willie Rennie of the Scottish Liberal Democrats was in Stonehaven
Image caption,

Willie Rennie of the Scottish Liberal Democrats was in Stonehaven

She added: "If Labour proposed a budget that was suggesting further austerity cuts that were damaging our public services and vulnerable people across the UK, the SNP wouldn't vote for that."

Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, insisted the SNP would use its position at Westminster to create a "grudge" in Scotland which would become the catalyst for a second independence referendum.

On a visit to Stonehaven, Mr Rennie said: "[The SNP] are wanting to create tricks and traps at Westminster to create trouble to generate that grudge and grievance so that they can then ask for another referendum.

"They said it was only going to be once in a lifetime but it's quite clear it's going to be in the next five years. The people I speak to are quite clear. They don't want to go through that again. "

Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson, campaigning in Ayrshire, said an alliance in Westminster of Labour and the SNP would lead to "militant left-wing policies".

She added: "Britain is facing the desperate prospect of a weak Labour government having its crutches kicked away by an SNP using every vote to make the case for independence.

"It would be a disaster for our economic recovery, with more borrowing and higher taxes to pay for unlimited welfare.

"The SNP's real motive would be to drive up resentment - all the better to create a wedge between our great nations."