Sturgeon blames opposition for rise in sectarian trouble

[ian1964 10,723]

NICOLA Sturgeon has blamed the opposition parties at Holyrood for a recent upsurge in sectarian trouble that has led to increased assaults on the police.

The First Minister said the opposition’s repeal of a law designed to stop religious bigotry at football matches last year had sent “entirely the wrong signal”.

She told MSPs: “We now have to deal with the consequences."

READ MORE: Scotland needs to look to its own history on sectarianism 

Earlier this week, the Herald revealed assaults against police officers has risen by a third amid increased sectarian tensions.

More than 563 officers were hurt as a result of assaults between April and June, an increase of 32 per cent on the same period in 2018.

Police were forced to respond to sectarian violence in Glasgow last month as Loyalist and Republican marchers and protesters clashed.

At First Minister’s Questions, SNP MSP Kenny Gibson asked if Mr Sturgeon thought the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act had “sent a signal that behaviour considered unacceptable just a couple of years ago is somehow less reprehensible”.

 

She replied: “Yes, I agree with Kenny Gibson. I’ve consistently said that the repeal of the Act in my opinion sent entirely the wrong signal.

“The Scottish Government resisted appeal because no viable alternative was offered at that time, and as we have clearly seen since, the issue of sectarianism at football has not gone away.

READ MORE: Rosemary Goring: If we want to end sectarianism, we must abolish Catholic schools 

“Repealing the Act rather than seeking to strengthen it took away important protections to help us address the issue, and we now have to deal with the consequences because of this.

“The tactics used by Police Scotland to police events and parades are obviously an operational matter for the Chief Constable. However I know that all police officers receive regular officer safety training, and all public order officers receive additional training and have access to enhanced protective equipment.”

Ms Sturgeon added: "Nobody should be the victim of abuse or violence while at work. Attacks against our police officers despicable and the perpetrators must be dealt with in the strongest possible way.

“There is a wide range of powers available to tackle such crimes and we fully support the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in dealing robustly with perpetrators.”

She said those convicted of assaulting emergency service workers could be jailed for up to 12 months or fined £10,000 or both, and new restitution orders would add more fines.

MSs voted 62-60 to repeal the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act in March 2018, seven years after it was introduced in response to a spate of sectarian incidents at games.

Backed by fan groups, Labour MSP James Kelly led the repeal, arguing the legislation treated football fans as second class citizens and was unnecessary given the other laws available for punishing disorderly behaviour.

He said at the time that he was delighted to see the end of “the worst piece of legislation in Scottish Parliament history”.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17944954.sturgeon-blames-opposition-rise-sectarian-trouble/?ref=twtrec

[johnnyk 158]

we really need to get this SNP cult out, they don't care about what the Majority of us voted for, blame every one but themselves!

 

please vote tactically at the next election ?

[compo 7,038]

But the opposition parties aren't the one's in power someone once said the buck stops here  .

[Bluedell 5,624]

You would think that Sturgeon should be praising Rangers fans for eliminating the sectarian songs, rather than making cheap political points. 

[Doc 280]

6 minutes ago, Bluedell said:

You would think that Sturgeon should be praising Rangers fans for eliminating the sectarian songs, rather than making cheap political points. 

That would require her to have objectivity and integrity, when it's clear that the SNP will twist any fact to suit their independence agenda. We could revise our entire songbook and not wave a single union jack flag but we would still be the enemy.

 

Vote them out.

[Bill 13,717]

Horrible party, horrible leader, horrible objectives.

[ChelseaBoy 2,441]

23 hours ago, Bluedell said:

You would think that Sturgeon should be praising Rangers fans for eliminating the sectarian songs, rather than making cheap political points. 

I'd never look to or expect anything from an enemy, and have no doubt the SNP will never speak good of Gers fans. 

 

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” 

 

I've always wanted to use that quote from Sun Tzu  

[RANGERRAB 3,660]

Scotland’s politics now mirrors that of Northern Ireland i.e unionists v nationalists. The SNP have caused that.

[alexscottislegend 2,320]

On 07/10/2019 at 22:17, RANGERRAB said:

Scotland’s politics now mirrors that of Northern Ireland i.e unionists v nationalists. The SNP have caused that.

Not quite; there's no Labour Party in NI; in Scotland you have the alternative of Scottish Labour. Reason there is no LP in Ni is because many feared that a Labour party would be an 'orange' Labour only.

[Scott7 6,004]

1 minute ago, alexscottislegend said:

Not quite; there's no Labour Party in NI;

What happened to Republican Labour after Gerry Fitt?