Scots UKIP MEP referred to European Parliament President over ‘racism’ row

Five of Scotland’s six European parliamentarians have jointly asked the European Parliament to investigate remarks made by Scotland’s other MEP, UKIP’s David Coburn.

The SNP’s Ian Hudghton and Alyn Smith, Scottish Labour’s David Martin and Catherine Stihler, and Conservative Ian Duncan have joined MSP Humza Yousaf in writing to European Parliament President Martin Schulz after Coburn compared Yousaf to radical cleric and convicted terrorist Abu Hamza in a newspaper interview. “Humza Yousaf, or as I call him, Abu Hamza,” said Coburn.

 “This language is quite unacceptable in an elected parliamentarian and we believe merits action in order to underline that such language has consequences,” the letter signed by all five MEPs reads.

Yousaf, who is Scotland’s External Affairs and International Development Minister, said the remarks were “abhorrent”.

“The European Union rightly prides itself on its promotion of tolerance and inclusion – something David Coburn’s remarks are completely at odds with.

“David Coburn’s Islamophobic insult has caused serious offence and anger to the Muslim community in Scotland, the UK and further afield. It is not acceptable and action must be taken,” he said.

The Daily Mail reported an emailed apology from Coburn to Yousaf yesterday which read: “It was wrong to say what I did, even in jest, it was not something for which I am proud”.

UKIP's Scottish chairman, Arthur Misty Thackeray said his party colleague had made a “slip of the tongue”, while UKIP leader Nigel Farage said it had been “a joke in poor taste”.