Scottish Labour pledge to scrap SNP's hated football bigotry......

[ian1964 10,416]

.....in radical shake-up if they win next election

 

DEPUTY Labour leader Anas Sarwar told the Record the party will repeal the Offensive Behaviour at Football act as part of a radical shake-up in the way hatred at matches is tackled.

 

 

 

THE SNP’s hated football bigotry laws will be scrapped if Scottish Labour win the next election, we can reveal today.

 

The party’s deputy leader Anas Sarwar has told the Record they will repeal the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act as part of a radical shake-up in the way hatred in the terraces is tackled.

 

The Labour announcement will increase pressure on Scottish ministers as it comes just two weeks after Celtic demanded an urgent review of the 2012 Act, which the club described as “unhelpful and counter-productive”.

 

Significantly, the party’s move to scrap the legislation would not be opposed by Scotland’s leading anti-sectarian charity, Nil by Mouth.

 

The SNP’s laws are meant to target sectarian abuse inside stadiums, on the internet and among supporters travelling to and from matches.

 

But Glasgow Central MP Sarwar said yesterday: “The Offensive Behaviour at Football Act is not fit for purpose.

 

“It has proved to be ineffective and unpopular, not least because sectarianism runs far beyond our touchlines and terraces.”

 

He said if they win power at Holyrood in 2016, Labour would tackle sectarianism with “renewed focus” by “ensuring that the police get the support they need, and the well-meaning majority of football fans are respected”.

 

He said the party would focus on “education and prevention, not politics”.

 

Last night, Nil by Mouth campaign director Dave Scott said: “This law has been highly controversial, with courts, police, clubs and fans themselves seeming unconvinced of its effectiveness. We should remember that there are alternatives to legislation.”

 

Community Safety Minister Roseanna Cunningham has ruled out any review of the Act until a study by Stirling University researchers on its effectiveness is completed by August next year.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scottish-labour-pledge-scrap-snps-3262872

[ian1964 10,416]

Ruth Davidson MSP ‏@RuthDavidsonMSP 2m

 

Perhaps they shouldn't have voted to pass such an obviously flawed bill in the first place, @AnasSarwar?

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[RANGERRAB 3,259]

McConnell's lhabour government introduced this law to criminalise Rangers supporters whilst turning a blind eye to the antics in the east end. when they got thrown out the SNP kept the law but would apply it to all football supporters not just Rangers supporters as McConnell intended.Now the dhims are bleating cos the poor wee declans & brendans are getting criminal records for singing their songs .

This legislation is a classic example of unleashing a tiger which has turned to maul you.Now the Lhabour masters are offering a way out to their trusted green 'n' grey supporters by abolishing a law they introduced in the first place against Rangers supporters.

Any Rangers supporter thinking of voting Lhabour to get this law scrapped should think very carefully indeed. i would not put it past lhabour to find another way of going after Rangers supporters whilst ignoring the songs & actions of their green 'n' grey hordes