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Chamber and committees

Hate Crimes Against Polish Migrants

  • Submitted by: Kenneth Gibson, Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2016
  • Motion reference: S5M-01257
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 04 October 2016

That the Parliament condemns recent hate crimes perpetrated against people from Poland living in the UK; recognises that Scotland and Poland have a long-standing, strong and fruitful connection and that this thriving relationship has brought great benefits to both countries, including from the wave of long-settled Polish migrants who came to this country after World War II having resisted Nazism and Stalinism; understands that 92% of Polish-born residents in the UK are in employment or education, which is considerably higher than the figure for people born in the UK; acknowledges that Poles and other migrants from Eastern Europe play a key part in many areas of the Scottish economy, particularly services, agriculture, construction and business; appreciates the high skills and excellent work ethic of Polish people and all that they bring to Cunninghame North and Scotland; believes that the negative rhetoric against Eastern Europeans in Britain has been built up and encouraged, in part, by irresponsible and shameful reporting by sections of the media; understands that, even after over 40 years of EU membership, less than 5% of Britain’s population were born in the other 27 EU countries; strongly condemns hate crimes of all kinds and the upset and fear that they cause; stands in solidarity with Polish people, both in Scotland and the rest of the UK, and will continue to welcome and support Polish migrants in Scotland.


Supported by: Clare Adamson, Tom Arthur, Jackie Baillie, Claire Baker, Graeme Dey, James Dornan, Mary Fee, John Finnie, Jenny Gilruth, Ross Greer, Emma Harper, Patrick Harvie, Clare Haughey, Alison Johnstone, Bill Kidd, Richard Lyle, Fulton MacGregor, Ben Macpherson, Gillian Martin, John Mason, Joan McAlpine, Ivan McKee, Christina McKelvie, Stuart McMillan, Ash Regan, Stewart Stevenson, David Torrance