Why Scotland may have avoided far right unrest

Prof Pittock says the largest bouts of civil unrest in his lifetime in Scotland have been associated with the long-standing rivalry between Celtic and Rangers.

He says there is an “inherited fault line” on Irish immigration, Irish Catholicism and Scottish Protestantism in the west coast, which goes back to the 19th Century.

“In various manifestations, that has actually created more public disorder than any other issue,” he says.

“The fault lines are different and where the fault lines are different you probably shouldn’t expect the same kinds of behaviour in the same way.”

There’s one other key and very Scottish difference that Prof Pittock notes: “Without being absolutely banal, in Scotland the weather is worse and there is less opportunity for public unrest.”

First Minister John Swinney says Scotland will remain vigilant following a meeting with Police Scotland and party leaders.

But the temperature across the UK has arguably changed as the week has progressed.

Swift action by the police and courts south of the border has led to more than 700 arrests and over 300 charged. Some have already received some hefty jail terms.

One man, charged in connection with attacks on a Holiday Inn Express near Rotherham which was housing asylum seekers, began to cry as he was led from court.

And thousands took to the streets for peaceful rallies in towns and cities across England on Wednesday evening. Met Police chief Mark Rowley called it a “very successful night”, saying the fears of extreme-right disorder were “abated”.

Riot squads remain on alert this weekend – but with peaceful anti-racism protests currently outnumbering cases of disorder, police commanders are hopeful it will remain peaceful.