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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour MSP bids to scrap 'hated' football act | Labour MSP bids to scrap 'hated' football act |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An attempt to ditch controversial legislation aimed at tackling sectarianism is being launched. | An attempt to ditch controversial legislation aimed at tackling sectarianism is being launched. |
| Labour's James Kelly will begin work on a Member's Bill to repeal the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act. | Labour's James Kelly will begin work on a Member's Bill to repeal the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act. |
| The Glasgow MSP said it was time to axe the "hated" law now that the SNP no longer had a majority at Holyrood. | |
| First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was a "strange priority" for opposition parties but she would discuss concerns. | First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was a "strange priority" for opposition parties but she would discuss concerns. |
| 'Legitimate concerns' | 'Legitimate concerns' |
| She said: "I think it's a strange priority for opposition parties to almost have as their first objective to get rid of legislation which is about tackling sectarianism. | She said: "I think it's a strange priority for opposition parties to almost have as their first objective to get rid of legislation which is about tackling sectarianism. |
| "That's not something which I think should be the priority of the opposition parties. | "That's not something which I think should be the priority of the opposition parties. |
| "But of course we are happy to discuss how legitimate concerns can be addressed, and that constructive approach is one that I will seek to take on any issue." | "But of course we are happy to discuss how legitimate concerns can be addressed, and that constructive approach is one that I will seek to take on any issue." |
| Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens all pledged to repeal the Act in their manifestos for the recent election. | Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens all pledged to repeal the Act in their manifestos for the recent election. |
| With the SNP returned to government as a minority administration, there is now a majority in the chamber which would back repeal. | With the SNP returned to government as a minority administration, there is now a majority in the chamber which would back repeal. |
| Glasgow MSP Mr Kelly will meet with officials at the Scottish Parliament later to begin the process of drafting his Members Bill. | Glasgow MSP Mr Kelly will meet with officials at the Scottish Parliament later to begin the process of drafting his Members Bill. |
| He said: "Today I'll take the first steps to repeal the SNP's hated Football Act. The law has become a symbol of the SNP's arrogance in government and it is time for it to go. | He said: "Today I'll take the first steps to repeal the SNP's hated Football Act. The law has become a symbol of the SNP's arrogance in government and it is time for it to go. |
| "The Football Act was bulldozed through parliament by the SNP with not a single other party voting for it and everyone from football fans to academics and lawyers opposing it. | "The Football Act was bulldozed through parliament by the SNP with not a single other party voting for it and everyone from football fans to academics and lawyers opposing it. |
| "The SNP still won't admit they got it wrong on the Football Act, but they have lost their majority in parliament and I will work constructively with the other parties to abolish the Football Act." | "The SNP still won't admit they got it wrong on the Football Act, but they have lost their majority in parliament and I will work constructively with the other parties to abolish the Football Act." |
| 'Eroded trust' | |
| The Act was introduced in 2012 in an attempt to crack down on sectarianism and other football-related offences. | The Act was introduced in 2012 in an attempt to crack down on sectarianism and other football-related offences. |
| Critics have argued there was already sufficient legislation in place to deal with disorder at football matches. They have also claimed the new law has unfairly targeted law-abiding football supporters. | Critics have argued there was already sufficient legislation in place to deal with disorder at football matches. They have also claimed the new law has unfairly targeted law-abiding football supporters. |
| The Fans Against Criminalisation campaign group also claimed the legislation had eroded trust between supporters and police and had failed to tackle bigotry. | |
| A report published earlier this year revealed there were only 79 convictions in 2014/15 under the legislation, with opposition parties stating the figures demonstrated the law was unnecessary. | A report published earlier this year revealed there were only 79 convictions in 2014/15 under the legislation, with opposition parties stating the figures demonstrated the law was unnecessary. |
| 'Real improvements' | |
| A spokeswoman for the Scottish government said the Act had "delivered real improvements". | |
| "Since its introduction, religious crimes, race crimes and crimes in relation to individuals' sexuality are down and we've seen a decrease in crimes of offensive behaviour at or in relation to regulated football matches in Scotland," she said. | |
| "Statistics show a steady decline in offences at stadiums and a YouGov poll shows 80% of Scots support the Act - a view shared by the overwhelming majority of those in the sample who follow Scottish football. | |
| "Any move to repeal the Act would send entirely the wrong signal and would undermine progress in driving all forms of prejudice from the game." |