A former Scots boxer has been blasted for sending ‘racist’ tweets branding Humza Yousaf ‘as Scottish as England’. The vile messages were sent from Alex Arthur’s Twitter account on Tuesday - just hours after the Glasgow-born politician was voted the new leader of the SNP.
Arthur, 44, who previously stood as a candidate for Alex Salmond’s Alba Party in 2021, said he wants “to see my own people, Scottish people, running Scotland, controlling our affairs”. In another outburst, he added: “He’s in the ‘Scottish’ parliament complaining everyone of power in Scotland is white.
“You think he’s talking about rednecks in Louisiana? He’s talking about us. Running our own affairs. I don’t want foreign people running my country my ancestors bled for.”
The former WBO super featherweight champ added that he’d “rather be lead by a Scotsman” and claimed: “That’s not racism.”
After being called out by fellow Twitter users, who branded his messages ‘racist’ and pointed out that Mr Yousaf was born in Scotland’, he replied: “Aye he comes from a long line of Macyousaf’s fi Glasgow.
“They just dropped the Mac lie the old clans did back in the day. He’s from Punjabi immigrants. He’s as Scottish as England.”
Outraged social media users swiftly hit back at Arthur, with one writing: “Humza is Scottish. Enjoy your backlash racist.”
Another said: “Alex, he was born in Scotland. His skin colour shouldn’t matter. If you don’t like his policies, that’s a different matter. To suggest a Scottish born 2nd gen immigrant can’t be first minister is ludicrous and prejudiced.”
A third added: “Alex quit while you’re behind mate. The world has moved on since Braveheart.”
And a fourth said: “Colour or religion doesn’t mean foreign Alex. You are confirming his point that you only want to see white Scots in power and would never want to see people of colour in positions of power, regardless if they are better qualified or not.”
Arthur has previously apologised for sending vile tweets after claiming Romanian beggars are as “fat” as pigs. He was also forced to say sorry for a tweet that appeared to be anti-vaccine during the covid pandemic.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mr Yousaf was voted in by MSPs as Scotland’s youngest First Minister and the first from a minority ethnic background.
The 37-year-old succeeds Nicola Sturgeon, who formally tendered her resignation to the King on Tuesday morning after announcing her intention to stand down last month after more than eight years in the post.
When approached by the Record, Arthur said: "I don't mind Humza. I saw a clip of him talking about the ethnicity of Scotland's office bearers and I pointed out Scotland is a predominantly white country."
The Scottish Government have been contacted for comment.
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