ormer First Minister Humza Yousaf has said he does not know if he and his family have a future in the UK in the wake of violent far-right riots.

Mr Yousaf said he had been concerned about the rise of Islamophobia for some time and that “we are now seeing the culmination of not years, actually decades of anti-migrant, anti-Muslim rhetoric”.

He told the News Agents podcast, he was “as Scottish as they come” but he didn’t know if he saw a future here for his wife and three children. “I was born in Scotland, raised in Scotland, educated in Scotland, just welcomed my third child here in Scotland. Was leader of the Scottish government for just over a year, leader of the Scottish National Party.

It came as Scotland Secretary Ian Murray warned Police Scotland not to be “complacent” over the threat of riots, as Sir Keir Starmer chaired another Cobra meeting while forces across the country were bracing for an eighth night of violence.

Mr Murray has now written to religious leaders in the wake of violence in other parts of the UK to give an “absolute assurance” of support.

Violence has erupted across England and Northern Ireland over the past week as a result of anti-immigrant demonstrations following the killing of three young girls in Southport.

More than 400 people had already been arrested, with court appearances happening across the UK on Tuesday.

Police Scotland have said there was no intelligence suggesting similar disorder was expected north of the border. In a statement released on Tuesday, Mr Murray said the violence was “unacceptable and intolerable”.

He said: “The hate-fuelled violence and thuggery we have seen in the last few days across parts of the country is unacceptable and intolerable.

“Two messages must be made clear – that those responsible for violence and rioting will face the full force of the law, and that the politics of hate and division can never win.

“I know that many communities in Scotland are concerned that violence may spread here. We do know that misinformation has been spread about events in Scotland.

“I spoke to the Chief Constable of Police Scotland today and made clear to her that she and her officers have my full support. I am reassured that Police Scotland do not have any specific intelligence that disorder is likely in Scotland at this point, but we must not be complacent.

“The Chief Constable is in close touch with her counterparts across the UK, including to share information, and of course mutual aid arrangements are available between forces across the UK.”

A number of mosques have been attacked in the rioting, as well as hotels housing those seeking asylum in the UK.

In response to concerns from ethnic minority communities, Mr Murray has sought to reassure religious groups, saying: “Many minority ethnic communities in Scotland have expressed concerns about their own safety. I have today written to religious leaders to give them my absolute assurance that I will do everything possible to support them at this difficult time. I know that the Chief Constable is aware of their concerns and has already taken steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all Scotland’s communities.

“There is no place in Scotland for this sort of violence, hate and xenophobia. We simply will not tolerate it.”

About 6,000 specialist officers will be at the ready by the end of the week for the so-called “standing army” of police announced by Sir Keir on Monday to deal with disorder.

The meeting of the UK government’s emergency response committee was meanwhile the second to be held in two days as officers anticipated further disorder leading into Wednesday. Concerns have also been raised that immigration law specialists could be at risk after a list of solicitors’ firms and advice agencies was shared in chat groups as targets for gatherings in the coming days.

According to Downing Street, the Prime Minister said: “When I went to Southport I spoke to police who described what it was like to attend the mass stabbing of little girls and then to be back on duty the next day in riot gear, having bricks thrown at them.

“This is something no-one would have ever wanted to see and we need to be calling it out for what it is. It is not protest. It is violent disorder and needs to be treated as such, as criminal activity.

“[A total of] 99.9 per cent of people across the country want their streets to be safe and to feel safe in their communities, and we will take all necessary action to bring the disorder to an end.”

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