An Uber Eats driver who was attacked during a far-right protest in Glasgow has spoken out about his ordeal, urging others to report abuse. Muhammad Jawad Yaqoob, a trained civil engineer who is in the UK legally, was assaulted while trying to earn an honest day's pay. He has loved his time in Glasgow but is now too scared to continue working as a delivery driver.
Attack on delivery driver condemned
The Record has reported that some of those taking part in a recent “stand up for our women and children” protest in Glasgow were a ragtag collection of wife beaters, fans of rape accused Andrew Tate, or out-and-out Nazis. Yaqoob, whose wife is studying to become a teacher, was attacked as he went about his business.
The far-right bully boys, sparking chaos in towns and cities, like to think of themselves as standing up for working people. But scratch the surface and this is quickly exposed as an outright lie. The attack on Yaqoob is a shocking state of affairs and a stain on the nation's reputation as welcoming.
GMB campaign against abuse
Yaqoob is a member of the GMB trade union and is backing a new campaign called No Excuse for Abuse. The union says attacks on delivery drivers are increasing and are often driven by racism. Most right-thinking people will support this campaign, as many Record readers work in public-facing roles in shops, bars, or the food industry.
They deserve to go about their business without being targeted for abuse. This is a country where hard graft is respected – and those who attack people at work deserve nothing but contempt.
Scottish Water bonuses condemned
The eye-watering bonuses enjoyed by Scottish Water executives have been rightly condemned. Consumers have had to pay more for this vital service after bills went up this year. The publicly-owned utility firm has also faced questions over what it is doing to reduce sewage dumps.
Chief executive Alex Plant received a £315,000 salary last year and a £115,000 bonus on top, which is an insult to bill payers. Having the water supply in public hands is positive and should be copied by the UK Government. But voters are fed up of fatcat remuneration packages during the cost-of-living crisis. The SNP government must step in to ensure these bosses face a reality check.
