Glasgow, Scotland – As the Scottish political landscape undergoes a significant shift, with the rise of the Reform UK party and its anti-immigration rhetoric, the city of Glasgow remains steadfast in its commitment to welcoming and supporting asylum seekers and refugees.
Selina Hales, the founder of the charity Refuweegee, insists that the power of the “Glasgow welcome” has not diminished, despite the growing tensions. Refuweegee, a portmanteau of “refugee” and “Weegee” (a local slang term for Glaswegians), has expanded exponentially over the past decade, providing support to hundreds of asylum seekers and refugees in the city every day.
“Over the past 10 years, I’ve always felt we were moving toward something positive,” says Hales. “But this is a frightening moment.” The charity’s hub in the city centre has seen a marked increase in visitors reporting racial abuse and feeling unsafe due to the presence of flags and the growing emboldening of anti-immigration sentiment.
The housing crisis in Glasgow has exacerbated the challenges faced by newly accepted refugees, with an estimated half of the city’s homeless applications coming from this group. Susan Aitken, the head of Glasgow City Council, warns that “huge numbers” of newly accepted refugees are “piling unsustainable pressure” on the city’s finances, with an expected overspend of more than £40 million this financial year.
However, the picture is more complex, with refugee agencies arguing that migrants are drawn to Glasgow by its established communities and support networks built over decades. “Glasgow has a reputation as being welcoming,” says Hales. “We hear it all the time: ‘I was told it’s safe here.'”
Despite the growing tensions, the city’s young people remain optimistic about the benefits of multilingualism and diversity. At St Andrew’s Secondary School, where students’ heritage encompasses more than 50 countries and 20 languages, teacher Lee Ahmed celebrates the cognitive and social advantages of bilingual learning.
“Bilingualism brings a lovely atmosphere to the classroom when we can interact with each other in different languages,” says Ahmed, refuting Nigel Farage’s claims of a “cultural smashing” of Glasgow.
While community frustrations are undeniable, especially in areas like Milton where “Saltire flags” have appeared on lamp posts, Hales insists that Glasgow’s welcoming spirit endures. “If there’s an increase in tension, Glasgow rallies. We’re very privileged in that we get to see the larger community response, which is: what can I do? How can I share? What do you need at the moment? That’s a beautiful thing.”
