Anti-sectarian legislation a sham

The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill has been passed by the Scottish Parliament after the Scottish Conservatives voted against it.

Scottish Conservative Justice Spokesman David McLetchie MSP said:

"From the outset we have taken a constructive approach by engaging with the Scottish Government to assess whether new laws were actually necessary to tackle the problem of sectarian behaviour and improve the Bill.

"Amendments were put forward at stages two and three in that spirit, but although the Minister did consider them, in the last analysis they have been rejected by the SNP Government.

"It is now clear that the Bill is no better than originally tabled and arguably worse because the SNP Government has so little confidence in the new offences it creates that it wants power to change them on the hoof. That is why we voted against the Bill today.

"The fundamental question is whether new legislation is necessary. It is not and our existing laws are perfectly adequate for police and the prosecution service to tackle the problem.

"What we will now see is a flood of prosecutions under the Bill, as current laws are ignored in favour of the new legislation.

"No doubt this will be presented as a great success by the SNP, but in reality it will be a sham."

Back to all posts