AN SNP MSP has said he “truly despises” being part of the the UK, saying “uncaring, xenophobic, fantasist exceptionalism is all I see from it”.
James Dornan, the MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, made the comments on Twitter after posting a link to an article about the Windrush scandal engulfing the UK government.
Theresa May and Home Secretary Amber Rudd are facing criticism over a “hostile environment” immigration policy which has resulted in the mistreatment of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK between the late 1940s and early 1970s.
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In a tweet on Sunday night, Mr Dornan, who recently stood for deputy leader of the SNP only to withdraw to focus on tackling sectarianism, said: “I truly despise being part of the UK.
“I feel so sorry for those who are permanently stuck with this bunch of incompetents and bigots. At least we have the opportunity to leave ahead of us, all we need is the confidence in ourselves to take it.”
A pro-Union Twitter user then challenged him, and said it was “a mistake to confuse the UK government of the day with the long term Union that is the United Kingdom”.
Mr Dornan replied: “Yep and I’ve been no fan of being a part of the UK for a long time. In recent years I’ve completely despised it. Uncaring, xenophobic, fantasist exceptionalism is all I see from it.”
After more criticism, including someone accusing him of “hatred”, Mr Dornan stressed he had been attacking the UK government, rather than the UK’s citizens.
He said: “Nowhere do I say anything against residents of any other country, and why would I? Westminster is a corrupt institution which has failed the people of Scotland. I have no desire to be run by it or be a part of the UK.”
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In another post accompanied by an eye-rolling emoji, he added: “It’s the government of the UK and I clearly don’t want to be governed by them.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “For someone who vowed to leave Twitter not so long ago, James Dornan’s certainly embracing the platform.
“Maybe he should spend less time behaving like a spoilt child on social media, and start working for the people he’s meant to be representing.”
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Mr Dornan told the Herald it was “ridiculous” to think he had anything against individuals in the UK, adding: “UK means UK government and being governed by someone else.”
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