ian1964 10,761 Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 The RST yesterday wrote to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon regarding the sectarian comments made by the SNP candidate for Argyll and Bute. Mr O'Hara used repeatedly used the sectarian term "hun" to whilst posting on a Celtic forum. The SNP has reiterated its position via its press office that Mr O'Hara will not resign despite admitting he made the comments. "Dear Ms Sturgeon, We are writing to you regarding sectarian comments made by SNP candidate Brendan O'Hara which were reported in the Sunday Express newspaper on April 26th. We are sure you are aware of these comments and the reaction to them - including the SNP press office's attempt to make light of the subject. Mr O'Hara's comments, despite being historical, were sectarian and had he made them in a football stadium on a Saturday afternoon he would be liable to arrest and prosecution under the SNP's Offensive Behaviour at Football Act. Instead, you and your party have continued to back Mr O'Hara to the extent that you made a personal appearance with him this past weekend to lend your support to his campaign. Do you think, as First Minister of Scotland and the leader of a political party which wants to see young football fans jailed for offensive behaviour at football, that you should be lending your personal support to a man who has made sectarian comments over a period of many years? The hypocrisy of both the SNP and your personal position on this matter is striking. You are happy to see young men and women jailed for making precisely the same comments as Mr O'Hara. You refuse to act in his situation however, presumably because sectarianism within the SNP is less important to you than winning seats. We would like an explanation from you personally about why your party has supported Mr O'Hara's sectarian comments, why you have subsequently supported his election by appearing with him to campaign and how you reconcile your approach to Mr O'Hara with your wish to jail others for the same behaviour. Finally if it is now the SNP position, per your party's press statement on Mr O'Hara, that those who indulge in sectarian behaviour need only apologise, then will you accept an apology from those prosecuted under the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act? Will you ensure their prosecutions are overturned? Will you abolish this ill thought out and selectively enforced legislation and will you ensure that sectarianism is dealt with properly through education rather than draconian attacks on freedom of speech? If you fail to take action on this subject then we and thousands of others across Scotland and the United Kingdom will be left with the only logical conclusion. That sectarianism is unacceptable to Nicola Sturgeon if you are a football fan attending a game but acceptable to her if you are an SNP candidate with the ear of the First Minister in a seat her party wants to win." Given the SNP position on this matter we will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Scottish Government following the General Election to discuss the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act and its implementation. - See more at: http://www.therst.co.uk/news/rst-write-to-nicola-sturgeon-regarding-sectarian-snp-candidate/#sthash.FgLXTZXG.dpuf 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,652 Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Seems a fair statement but not much chance of the outcome they want. Interestingly, I do wonder if Mhairi Black after her comments about Celtic will get the same backing now she's been voted in. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
26th of foot 6,114 Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 (edited) Brendan O'Hara is the MP for Argyll and Bute. He has been elected with a majority in excess of 8,000. Sticking it on the Huns carries no electoral sanction. Currently, on BBC Scotland, I am watching the former Editor of ra Sellik View, Kevin McKenna. He is doing a warm up act for the First Minister and setting the ground of IndyRef 2. Gersnetters may remember Kevin being allowed to resign from ra View after being recorded saying, "the IRA bombing of Enniskillen war memorial was a legitimate act of war"? Further, Kevin offered, "Protestants breed like rabbits". In the intervening 25 years, Kevin has secured one promotion after another - Scotland on Sunday Sports Editor, Herald Deputy Editor, Scottish Editor Daily Mail, Guardian and Observer columnist, ........ etc. Kevin continues to hate, just a lot more carefully. Interestingly, in a night of dramatic sweeping change in Scotland; almost uniquely, the SNP PPC for Edinburgh South, Neil Hay has lost to Labour's Ian Murray. Remember, he re-tweeted a view on Pensioners not knowing the day of the week, and should be refrained from voting. Further, those not voting nationalist can be considered Quislings. Clearly, sticking it on Pensioners has political consequences, Rangers supporters, not so much. Edited May 8, 2015 by 26th of foot 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gisabeer 409 Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Has anyone actually made a complaint to the police? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappa 0 Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Brendan O'Hara is the MP for Argyll and Bute. He has been elected with a majority in excess of 8,000. I can't help wondering if he might not have won that election if there hadn't been all the fuss about him recently from Rangers fans. Not that I'm saying he should just have been ignored, but if he had, then he'd have had a lot less publicity. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 I can't help wondering if he might not have won that election if there hadn't been all the fuss about him recently from Rangers fans. Not that I'm saying he should just have been ignored, but if he had, then he'd have had a lot less publicity. Impossible to say what effect this incident had on his campaign. May have won with a larger majority without it.... may have been less.... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Ger_1872 2 Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Seems a fair statement but not much chance of the outcome they want. Interestingly, I do wonder if Mhairi Black after her comments about Celtic will get the same backing now she's been voted in. What was it she has said? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barca72 440 Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 What was it she has said? http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/revealed-what-snp-candidate-paisley-5118483 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinstein 294 Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/revealed-what-snp-candidate-paisley-5118483 my kind of gal 20's a bit young for parliament I reckon................but then I'm an auld fogie. she looks strong and forceful like Ruth Davidson 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplythebest 0 Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 (edited) Taken from elsewhere: All those who should be contacted, contact details: - standardscommissioner@parliament.uk - Kathryn Hudson: hundsonk@parliament.uk - Gwen Harrison: harrisongj@parliament.uk - cmscom@parliament.uk - Rt Hon David Cameron MP (10 Downing Street, London, SW12 2AA). - Rt Hon David Mundell MP: david@davidmundell.com - Your local MP TEMPLATE TO BE USED: Dear , Unfortunately, I feel it is of upmost importance as my civic duty to complain so early in the new Parliament about a newly elected SNP MP, Brendan O’Hara. It may or may not be known to you that during the run-up to the General Election this year, he was found out to have used a derogatory, sectarian term on a public forum against a group, depicting Glasgow Rangers fans as ‘H***’, which received extensive media coverage as detailed below: - http://www.express.c...would-be-SNP-MP - http://www.therst.co...-brendan-ohara/ - http://www.heraldsco...er-us.124710295 - http://forargyll.com...-snp-candidate/ Using the word ‘h**’ in the derogatory manner in which he used it could be interpreted as a criminal breach of the ‘Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012’ which is punishable under Scots Law. I also believe his actions to be in serious breach of the Members of Parliament ‘code of conduct’ under the following areas: ‘6. Members have a general duty to act in the interests of the nation as a whole; and a special duty to their constituents.7. Members should act on all occasions in accordance with the public trust placed in them. They should always behave with probity and integrity, including in their use of public resources. IV. General Principles of Conduct 8. In carrying out their parliamentary and public duties, Members will be expected to observe the following general principles of conduct identified by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in its First Report as applying to holders of public office.[1] These principles will be taken into account when considering the investigation and determination of any allegations of breaches of the rules of conduct in Part V of the Code. "Selflessness Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. Integrity Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties. Objectivity In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit. Accountability Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office. Openness Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands. Honesty Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest. Leadership Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example." V. Rules of Conduct 9. Members are expected to observe the following rules and associated Resolutions of the House. 10. Members shall base their conduct on a consideration of the public interest, avoid conflict between personal interest and the public interest and resolve any conflict between the two, at once, and in favour of the public interest’ For these reasons I do not believe O’Hara to be fit and proper to serve as an impartial representative in the best interests of all in his constituency or the wider UK electorate as a whole and should either be invited to stand down triggering a by-election or sacked with immediate effect triggering a by-election. I have recently been lead to believe that he is keen to apply for the Culture, Media and Sports Committee. Using derogatory terms like ‘h**’ to describe football fans following a particular team means he will not be able to make impartial decisions or give impartial evidence on the committee by holding such bigoted public views. To retain the integrity of the Parliament I believe any request from him to join the Committee should be rejected for the aforementioned valid reasons. I do hope that you are aware of the severity of this situation and that you will act accordingly on behalf withholding the integrity of the British Parliamentary system. Yours Sincerely, Edited May 12, 2015 by simplythebest 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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