A LABOUR MSP has been branded “utterly irresponsible” and “self serving” over efforts to repeal controversial legislation aimed at cracking down on football sectarianism.
James Kelly is to give evidence to MSPs on Holyrood’s Justice Committee on his member’s bill, which if passed, would scrap the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act.
But ahead of the committee meeting SNP MSP George Adam accused him of ignoring the “vast majority” of people in Scotland who back the law.
The SNP cited a YouGov poll from 2015 as showing more than 80 per cent of Scots support the Act.
Mr Adam also pointed to a number of organisations who wanted it to remain in place, including Victim Support Scotland, the Scottish Human Rights Commission, the Scottish Council for Jewish Communities and Stonewall Scotland.
The legislation – which came into force in 2012 – criminalises behaviour which is “threatening, hateful or otherwise offensive at a regulated football match including offensive singing or chanting’’. But it has been widely criticised by fan organisations and others, with Mr Kelly claiming it has unfairly targeted football fans, causing division between police and supporters.
Mr Adam however said: “James Kelly is utterly irresponsible in seeking to erode the powers our police currently have to tackle bigotry, just to land a political blow.
“At a time when the SNP Government is focussed on education, health, jobs, the economy and protecting Scotland’s place in Europe, the Labour party would rather see us remove legislation that tackles sectarianism, prejudice and discrimination whilst offering no alternative.”
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