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Eddie Izzard labels nationalist protesters as 'violent' and 'aggressive' as fights break out on Glasgow trip

Watch scuffles break out as Jim Murphy and Eddie Izzard attempt Glasgow walkabout

Kiran Moodley
Monday 04 May 2015 17:41 BST
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(Andy Buchanan | AFP | Getty Images)

Eddie Izzard and Jim Murphy's walkabout in Glasgow did not go according to plan after a mixture of anarchists, non-aligned socialists and Scottish Nationalists shouted down the Labour pairing.

The Scottish Labour leader and the comedian were trying to address supporters in Scotland's largest city when hecklers began shouting "traitor", "warmongerer" and "Red Tories out". Some of the protesters were holding SNP leaflets.

A series of scuffles broke out between the two opposing sides as Mr Izzard and Mr Murphy were later bundled into a car and left the scene.

"This sort of aggressive nationalism should have no place in our election," Mr Murphy told reporters.

A reporter told Mr Izzard that the group said that while some were SNP supporters, the rest were anarchists and non-aligned socialists.

"Well, if they are not the Scottish National Party, then what are they doing here?" Mr Izzard said. "We’re just doing democracy. This is democracy. It's all about voting.

"Whatever, they should still lend the democratic process happen. It's called democracy. We're putting forward a point of view."

Mr Izzard was in Scotland helping Scottish Labour ahead of running for election in 2020, either as an MP or as Mayor of London. The comedian said he had campaigned in 57 different constituencies across the county ahead of May 7.

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