SNP's flagship laws tackling bigotry in football are blasted by leading anti-sectaria

[ian1964 10,416]

THE SNP government's controversial plan to crack down on bigotry in football was dealt a huge blow yesterday - by Scotland's leading anti-sectarianism organisation.

 

Campaign group Nil By Mouth said they wanted "less grandstanding and more understanding" from Alex Salmond.

 

Their refusal to endorse the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill is the latest setback for one of the First Minister's flagship policies.

 

And it comes just a day after the Rt Rev Philip Tartaglia, Bishop of Paisley, called for the Bill to be delayed, claiming it had caused a "serious chill in relations" between the Catholic Church and the SNP.

 

The Record can also reveal that previously supportive Labour MSPs are becoming "more sceptical" about the legislation.

 

Last night, the party called on Holyrood's presiding officer Tricia Marwick to rule whether the Bill was legal - after warnings it may be at odds with European human rights laws.

 

Nil By Mouth - who were formed after the sectarian murder of Celtic fan Mark Scott in 1995 - have campaigned for tougher laws in the past.

 

But yesterday campaign director Dave Scott said: "We feel the legislation is robust as it is at the moment."

 

He said he didn't think the Bill would "add" to current laws.

 

Scott said: "We want to make sure the problem is tackled effectively. We want to see less grandstanding and more understanding.

 

"We've become increasingly concerned and frustrated at the way this Bill is progressing and the fact that the debate has been limited to football.

 

"I think people are confused as to what the Bill is supposed to do and it would be a mistake to allow this complex and deep-seated issue to be confined to football.

 

"We have seen evidence of sectarianism in schools, communities and workplaces across Scotland and it affects people from all traditions."

 

Nil By Mouth were at the forefront of the campaign to give yobs tougher sentences for crimes "aggravated" by sectarian hatred.

 

Since new laws were introduced eight years ago, more than 2000 bigots have been convicted.

 

The latest attempt to crack down on sectarian football fans also faces stinging criticisms in a Holyrood committee report due out tomorrow.

 

It highlights confusion over what amounts to "offensive" behaviour and warns the Bill could clash with human rights laws.

 

The criticism is doubly embarrassing for the government because SNP MSPs dominate the committee.

 

The Bill was already branded a "distraction" in a strongly worded letter from Bishop Tartaglia to the First Minister.

 

He accused ministers of concealing statistics showing the scale of anti-Catholic sectarianism in the wider Scottish society - and he warned the SNP risked losing "the confidence of the Catholic community".

 

Under the proposed Bill, yobs will face up to five years in jail for offensive singing, chanting or gesturing.

 

But the plans have caused confusion and anger among fans.

 

In June, community safety minister Roseanna Cunningham said fans who sang the national anthem or made the sign of the cross in an "aggressive" way could face jail.

 

Salmond attempted to rally support for the Bill last week after both Rangers and Celtic supporters unfurled banners voicing opposition.

 

He told MSPs the future of Scottish football was at risk if they refused to back the plans.

 

But last night, Labour sources said they were considering voting against the Bill.

 

The party's justice spokesman James Kelly said: "We want to support tough, effective laws to tackle sectarianism - but we refuse to back bad or illegal legislation."

 

He wrote to the presiding officer after the Scottish Human Rights Commission warned the Bill could breach human rights laws, which say people should understand clearly what is and is not a criminal offence.

 

They also said it was unclear whether the Bill would infringe people's freedom of speech.

 

Another Labour MSP said: "We have not reached a final position as yet but it is fair to say that as we've seen more evidence over the summer we have become more sceptical.

 

"If the government were doing something we believed would be effective we would have no hesitation in standing alongside them.

 

"But we have serious concerns. "The whole situation is actually making the atmosphere at football matches worse right now."

 

A Scottish government spokesman said Salmond would meet Bishop Tartaglia tomorrow and show him as-yet unpublished legal guidelines on the Bill.

 

He said: "We are confident that we can allay concerns about the Bill."

 

The spokesman added there was "no intention to restrict freedom of speech" with the legislation.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2011/10/06/snp-s-flagship-laws-tackling-bigotry-in-football-are-blasted-by-leading-anti-sectarian-group-86908-23470273/

[GovanAllan 0]

Amazing how everyone is going off this piece of crap legislation as soon as the light shines on the poor wee Catholics.

 

"No intention to restrict freedom of speech" aka we won't arrest Catholics Bishop Tartaglia. Now will you bend over so I can kiss your arse.

Edited October 6, 2011 by GovanAllan

[26th of foot 5,836]

I read the front page of yesterday's Herald, Falls Road born'n'bred Gerry Braiden told us Bishop Pastasounding name was unhappy, Paul McBride QC has misgivings, and Tom Devine is disappointed. There was also an Editorial pandering to unhappiness, misgivings, and disappointment. I suspect today's and tomorrow's correspondence pages will be more of the supportive same.

 

You have got to wonder about Prof' Devine, he is continually disappointed. Maybe him, Paul McBride QC, and Bishop Pastasounding name can get together of an afternoon for a self-help grouping of menage a trois?

[Frankie 8,151]

Interesting day today for the 'Anti-Sectarian' Bill with the Justice Committee submitting their Stage 2 report amidst this raft of criticism.

 

I do find it fascinating that the biggest critics of said Bill appear to be those who complain most about having to suffer from sectarianism. Seems rather strange?

 

Perhaps the increased attention on their own intolerances has made them wary of accepting legislation which only they wanted in the first place.

[26th of foot 5,836]

Interesting day today for the 'Anti-Sectarian' Bill with the Justice Committee submitting their Stage 2 report amidst this raft of criticism.

 

I do find it fascinating that the biggest critics of said Bill appear to be those who complain most about having to suffer from sectarianism. Seems rather strange?

 

Perhaps the increased attention on their own intolerances has made them wary of accepting legislation which only they wanted in the first place.

 

 

Republican Rose got all garrulous at the beginning of proceedings, she appeared on BBC Scotland's Newsnicht telling us all that the main concern was NOT anti-sectarianism but anti-catholocism. It's Cardinal O'Brien's "punch a pape" routine by a different presentation.

 

When do we get to vote for Cardinal O'Brien and Bishop Pastasounding name?

[Tumshie RFC 0]

The full bill is an absolute joke from start to finish. The Catholic Church has no business getting involved in politics of any kind. Church and state have been separate in Scotland for hundreds of years and we are all the better for it.

 

As for Republican Rose she clearly has not got a clue on what is and is not sectarian. How cane a football fan go to a game and not know what he can and cannot sing? If they are going to clear everything up they need to publish what songs can and cannot be sung. It seems simple enough.

[GovanAllan 0]

Interesting day today for the 'Anti-Sectarian' Bill with the Justice Committee submitting their Stage 2 report amidst this raft of criticism.

 

I do find it fascinating that the biggest critics of said Bill appear to be those who complain most about having to suffer from sectarianism. Seems rather strange?

 

Perhaps the increased attention on their own intolerances has made them wary of accepting legislation which only they wanted in the first place.

 

Couldn't have put it better Frankie. Would love to be a fly on the wall in the private meeting with his Bishopness. You can just see it " Salmond you stupid fat prick we give you one thing to do and that's hammer the prods and you can't even get that right. Bend over and take it like an Alterboy. "

[Juancornetto 1]

Quite staggering that in 2011, Scotland that wants to be seen as a modern and progressive Nation with world class education, business and scientific facilities and skills, places such weight on the views of an archaic and irrelevant body as the Catholic Church.

 

I detest Catholicism as well as all other organised religions, they have brought nothing to the table but conflict, intolerance and abuse and now they want to meddle with the laws of this land. It's embarrassing that people like that are allowed to even sit around the table with the people running our country. By definition these people are anti-democratic, anti-progress and anti-integration. The polar opposite of the values this country is trying to promote.

[biggordy 0]

I am very interested to see how salmond addresses the accusation of "concealing statistics showing scale the of anti Catholic sectarianism".

[Ergatrude 0]

I am very interested to see how salmond addresses the accusation of "concealing statistics showing scale the of anti Catholic sectarianism".

 

He will probably just scream "FREEDOM" as loud as his lungs will let him, paint his face blue & then run(waddle) to England before collapsing in front of the first Englishman he attempts to stab.