Scottish election 2021: Liberal Party member suspended over Yousaf confrontation

Derek Jackson was among the men seen wearing yellow stars and making salute gestures

A Liberal Party member who confronted the SNP MSP Humza Yousaf at a Glasgow election count has been suspended.

Derek Jackson and others, who are not affiliated with the Liberal Democrats, questioned Mr Yousaf about how women and children in Pakistan are treated.

Police arrived at the scene and asked them to leave. Mr Yousaf has accused them of targeting ethnic minorities.

A spokesman for the Liberal Party said they were not aware Mr Jackson was going to confront Mr Yousaf.

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The spokesman added that Mr Jackson "had used the party for his own ends and has a long history of this behaviour in the past".

He added: "NAC member Stephen Graham who vetted him was not aware of this.

"We weren't aware whatsoever of what he intended to do today."

The group of men were members of the Liberal Party - not linked to the Liberal Democrats

Liberal Party candidate Derek Jackson was asked to leave the count in Glasgow

The Liberal Party are one of the smallest in Scotland, standing one candidate in the Holyrood election.

The men were seen at the Emirates Arena count wearing yellow stars with the phrase "unvax", as well as repeatedly making saluting gestures.

Police Scotland said they escorted six people from the venue following "complaints about their behaviour" and that inquiries were ongoing.

Mr Yousaf said the group made a "beeline" for him due to his skin colour.

They questioned him about the Hate Crime Bill which MSPs passed in March before turning to events in Pakistan.

Following the incident, Mr Yousaf tweeted: "Twice these cretins have approached me, targeting ethnic minority candidates demanding we apologise for things going on in Pakistan.

"Always said voices of good outweigh the bad. When these numbskulls started, people of all political parties joined with me to tell them to jog on."

Mr Yousaf also praised what he called "the best of Scotland" after colleagues from other political parties stepped in.

He was later re-elected as the MSP for Glasgow Pollok, with 53.7% of the vote.

Mr Yousaf greeted Nicola Sturgeon as she arrived at the count following the incident

It comes after Nicola Sturgeon was involved in a tense confrontation with a far-right candidate as she visited a polling station in the south of Glasgow on Thursday.

The SNP leader was praised on social media for how she handled an approach from a former deputy leader of Britain First.

Jayda Fransen accused Ms Sturgeon of "flooding" the country with immigrants.

Footage posted online showed the first minister call Ms Fransen "a fascist and a racist".

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