A far-right group in Glasgow is planning a protest against an English class designed to help refugee and asylum seeker families. The group, known as the Spartan Child Protection Team, says they will gather at Dalmarnock Primary School on Monday, where the school provides English lessons for parents who are not native speakers. Videos posted online show members of the group already filming around the school and speaking with parents to convince them to keep their children at home during the protest.
The protest is being led by Alex Cairnie, a man known locally for confronting suspected offenders, and right-wing podcaster Craig Houston. Both men claim they have discovered a loophole that allows adults to enter a school without passing background checks. Houston has posted interviews with unnamed parents online, while Cairnie suggested that something “shady” was happening at the school, even though the pair have not provided any evidence to support their claims.
Some parents interviewed in the videos said they would not send their children to school on Monday. One woman said many parents were planning to keep their children at home, while a man claimed that the English classes were “not safe for the weans”. The group has also targeted the headquarters of the organisation that helps run the learning programmes and accused its leaders of corruption, again without offering proof.
In response, Glasgow City Council strongly denied all the accusations and said the so-called loophole does not exist. The council explained that adult visitors are allowed in schools under normal procedures, especially when taking part in organised family learning programmes like the English classes. The council also stressed that these classes are common across the city and help parents support their children’s education.
The council described the group’s activities as spreading misinformation and trying to stir up fear and division. They said they “will not tolerate racism or bigotry of any kind” in their schools, adding that the protest is based on false claims and a hidden agenda. They also warned that vigilante groups entering school grounds without permission are a danger to the safety of pupils and staff.
City officials explained that schools in Glasgow are community hubs where parents and carers are welcome. They said family learning is an important part of their values because it helps children do better in school and makes families feel more connected. They added that targeting English classes for migrant parents is rooted in racism and goes against the city’s commitment to inclusion and respect for all communities.
It also emerged that Cairnie was convicted earlier this year of abducting a man he accused of a child sex offence. During the case, Sheriff Brian Mohan said Cairnie and his supporters were “running around like cowboys”, highlighting concerns about their behaviour. This has added to worries about the group being close to schools and families.
Last month, Scotland’s largest teaching union, the EIS, said they were already worried about the safety of staff and students in Falkirk after rallies near an asylum hotel. Their warning adds to wider fears that far-right protests are putting schools and communities under stress, especially those working with vulnerable people such as refugees and asylum seekers.