SCOTLAND AS A VITAL LENS ON THE UK’s EXTREME FAR RIGHT

Scotland offers a vital perspective on how extreme far-right groups in the UK are changing over time, especially in places such as Glasgow, Paisley, Falkirk, and parts of the West of Scotland. There, old-school sectarian loyalism is mixing with newer methods: long-standing Orange Order connections are combining with digital misinformation, where Telegram groups push stories against immigrants, and bots created by AI—sometimes linked back to outside forces like operations from Iran—are ramping up divisions over independence and stirring up trouble. Efforts to bring in young people are booming through things like "Active Clubs" in Glasgow and Edinburgh, where workouts mask the process of radicalizing kids; teenagers get pulled into ideas of white supremacy via exercise sessions, funny images online, and a sense of belonging.

The spread of propaganda is speeding up on X, thanks to algorithms that create bubbles where violent ideas start to seem normal by turning doubts into strong feelings of belonging and resentment.

Important ACTORS Scott Cowan, leading Active Club Scotland for "race wars," and David Clews from Unity News Network, whose posts connect everyday unionist views with more radical demands. They are using unrest from riots to recruit youth pushing for ethnic nationalism but denying to advocate violence. What makes significant is the way how they merge cleverly local religious divisions with neonazi ideas from abroad, promoting showing off actions planned fires or attacks on individuals. New cells influenced by "Terrorgram" inside these Active Clubs are emerging, sharing tips on starting fires and more sinister actions....; the more they recruit targeted uncontrolled youth the more real spike in threats is increasing. Must we keep focus on these dynamics to prevent as much and realistic possible due to lack of resources into spilling over real-world actions.