Edinburgh Airport brands ‘England get out of Scotland’ protest as a ‘despicable act’

Edinburgh Airport has hit out at activists who staged a protest on its grounds demanding English tourists do not travel to Scotland – branding their actions as ‘despicable’.

Campaigners from grassroots group Action for Scotland gathered at Scotland's largest airport on Thursday (Aug 20), where they unfurled a banner reading ‘England Stay Out of Scotland’.

During a series of protests in recent weeks, Action for Scotland have demanded the Scottish Government closes borders and transport hubs linking England and Scotland in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The group claim that “irresponsible” English tourists are putting the country's attempts to contain Covid-19 in Scotland at risk.

Activist Sean Clerkin said: “We are doing today’s protest to continue our call to the Scottish Government to close the border and all ports of entry for non essential travel from England to Scotland to protect the people Of Scotland from Covid-19.”

Edinburgh Airport, which recently announced plans to make about a third of its 750-strong workforce redundant due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, was quick to condemn Action for Scotland's demonstration and said they had urged police to take action.

A post on Edinburgh Airport's Twitter page read: ‘Today's protest at the airport was a despicable act. This group knows that their brand of hatred would not be tolerated by right-thinking people and chose to sneak in and perpetrate it far from the terminal.

‘They do not represent the Scotland we live and work in or the Scotland that is recognised for its friendliness and tolerance across the globe.’

‘We condemn them unreservedly and will not accept it. We have contacted Police Scotland and asked them to pursue this matter urgently’.

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