Shock poll lifts lid on racist Scots: LARGE numbers of Scots hold racist views which could lead to a rise in the fortunes of far-right politicians north of the Border, a disturbing new opinion poll reveals. Almost half of all Scots would back moves to return immigrants to their country of origin, according to the exclusive Scotland on Sunday/Scottish Opinion poll. The survey - conducted in the wake of National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen%u2019s success in the French presidential race - also reveals that only 46% of Scots believe immigrants make a positive contribution to society.

So why should Scotland be any different from any other Western country? (Or probably any other country, for that matter, but the West seems to be the only part of the world that regularly runs this sort of poll.)

It is always amusing to see the shock from Europeans when this sort of result appears. Especially in difficult economic times -- and Europe's economy hasn't been as robust as ours for some time -- this sort of division appears.

In any event, I expect we will see more and more people like Le Pen appearing in politics all over Europe. Most European countries have lacked a viable center-right party for so long that it's only the far right that's managed to make itself heard, unfortunately.

(Don'tcha just love the fact that Fortuyn is distinguishing himself from Le Pen? There's not all that much difference, aside from the obvious. And the obvious has baffled me about Fortuyn from the beginning, frankly. I mean, I don't expect that all gays will be rampageously left-wing everywhere; that would be silly. But seriously, given his politics, you almost expect Fortuyn to propose putting himself into a concentration camp. Which would probably make many in Europe quite happy, actually.)

is it not about time you started to consider your own people first, before refugee's, charity begins at home first, then sort out the rest of the world.