Nicola Sturgeon opens Govanhill festival and tells people to get vaccinated

The First Minister was in her constituency to kick off the two-week event, which will see more than 50 events take place in the community.

She told a crowd gathered in Queen's Park Arena there is "no place" for racism in Scotland.

Speaking to carnival-goers, Ms Sturgeon spoke about the far right candidate Jayda Fransen having the "temerity to put her name on the ballot paper in Glasgow Southside" during the recent Holyrood elections.

She added: "As she confronted me... she screamed with the hate-filled look in her face that I should be ashamed of Govanhill.

"Well I am not ashamed of Govanhill I am proud of Govanhill.

"And let me tell you what I'm also proud of: that fascist got 46, 47 votes. The Southside of Glasgow sent her packing.

"There is no place in Govanhill, there is no place in the South Side, there is no place in Glasgow, there is no place in Scotland for racism or fascism.

"We stand united against all of that and in celebration of the diversity that makes us who we are."

The MSP also urged people to get vaccinated and spoke of her joy at being back in a crowd of people after months of lockdown.

She said: "It is so amazing to be amongst people again.

"This is probably the biggest crowd of people I've been in for almost two years and I am sure that is true of many people here.

"So it is such a joy to be with people in the flesh again.

"If you indulge me with my serious head on for just one more moment, if you are not vaccinated yet, get vaccinated as soon as possible and help us all get back to doing all of the normal things that we all want to do."

Earlier, hundreds had gathered in Govanhill Park to form the Carnival parade, which marched along Coplaw Street and the length of Victoria Road.

There were roller skaters, cyclists, WASPI women, Romano Lav and local charities alongside delegations from political parties, giant paper mache puppets, Roma dancers and a Chinese lion.

The colourful, upbeat parade attracted hundreds of onlookers who lined the route.

Govanhill International Festival and Carnival is in its fifth year - having been postponed during the pandemic.

Its organisers describe it as an antidote to racism towards migrant communities from Eastern Europe in the neighbourhood.

Introducing the First Minister, Fatima Uygun, the manager of Govanhill Baths Community Trust, said the community is the most diverse in the UK outside of London and praised the spirit of anti-racism in the community.