Protests erupt against veterans’ eviction to make way for refugees | UK | News
Angry locals and sick war veterans have joined forces to protest plans to evacuate war heroes from their historic base in Scotland to make room for 300 male refugees.
The Queens Own Highlanders Regiment, currently based at Cameron Barracks in Inverness, will be moved as part of the Home Office bid to convert the site into asylum accommodation by the end of the month.
In a surprising move, the SNP-led Highland Council opposed the proposal, arguing that the base’s location was “inappropriate” and risked “community cohesion”; This is in stark contrast to the party’s usual rhetoric on immigration and asylum.
Protests reflect situation in East Sussex town
The Highlands riot is also similar to the situation in the East Sussex town of Crowborough, which has seen a series of protests over the prospect of 600 single men being housed at a nearby military training camp.
Sunday’s march, which drew 2,000 people, followed an angry public rally on Thursday night in which local politicians were shouted at and chased from the community center hall.
Residents set panic alarms over safety fears and GP concerns
Residents said they had already installed panic alarms in their homes due to safety concerns, while others expressed concern about an extra 600 people registering with local GPs at a time when appointments were already difficult to get.
Hundreds of anti-immigrant and counter-protesters clashed in Inverness at the weekend amid rising tensions over plans for Cameron Barracks. At the peak of the demonstration, which gathered in Inverness High Street on Saturday, there were around 200 campaigners on both sides, with many coming from other parts of Scotland.
Isabelle MacKenzie, Conservative Councilor for Millburn, where the barracks is located, said: “Inverness has never seen anything like this before. And I believe this is just the beginning.”
The Saltiers were flying high as protesters chanted through megaphones and blared sirens. “Send them home, send them home, send them home,” organizers of the “Inverness Against Illegal Immigrant Barracks” event shouted through megaphones.
Veterans raise concerns over government support for illegal immigrants
Charlie MacIvor, 68, proudly displayed his “HM Armed Forces” badge on his lapel. The Inverness resident served for 25 years in the Queen’s Own Highlanders and the Royal Corps of Transport.
He said: “I’m totally against it. Why are they sending so many people to Army barracks? A small place like Inverness can’t cope with that influx of people.”
Graham Cameron, 66, a Royal Air Force veteran, was more direct. He demanded: “Homeless veterans are not getting any support from this Government; why are you giving it to illegal immigrants? I believe we need to help our own people first.”
“I’m not a far-right winger, but I want to invite Keir Starmer and John Swinney to come here and talk to us face to face.”
Cameron Barracks, a 140-year-old recruiting base near the city center, was previously used to house Afghan families.
