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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon condemns report burn councillors SNP suspends councillors who burned Smith report
(35 minutes later)
Scotland's first minister has condemned a group of SNP councillors who burned a copy of the report on strengthening the Scottish Parliament's powers. A group of SNP councillors involved in burning a copy of the report on strengthening the Scottish Parliament's powers have been suspended.
A video of the burning of the Smith Commission document by the three elected Renfrewshire Council members was posted online, but later removed. A video of the elected Renfrewshire Council members burning the Smith Commission document by was posted online, but later removed.
Nicola Sturgeon told ITV Border their actions were "unacceptable". The SNP said four individuals had been suspended from the party, pending an investigation.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said their actions were "unacceptable".
The councillors will be referred to the standards watchdog by the council's Labour leader Mark MacMillan.The councillors will be referred to the standards watchdog by the council's Labour leader Mark MacMillan.
SNP councillors Brian Lawson, Will Mylet and Mags MacLaren staged the burning outside Renfrewshire Council's headquarters, with the video of the event reposted on YouTube.SNP councillors Brian Lawson, Will Mylet and Mags MacLaren staged the burning outside Renfrewshire Council's headquarters, with the video of the event reposted on YouTube.
Reacting to the event, Ms Sturgeon told ITV Border: "I absolutely condemn it - it is unacceptable behaviour.Reacting to the event, Ms Sturgeon told ITV Border: "I absolutely condemn it - it is unacceptable behaviour.
"We all have strong, passionate views on the future of Scotland. I believe Scotland should be an independent country. People are entitled to express those views robustly and passionately."We all have strong, passionate views on the future of Scotland. I believe Scotland should be an independent country. People are entitled to express those views robustly and passionately.
"But setting fire to something because you don't agree with it is unacceptable behaviour and the councillors in question will be left in no doubt about my views of their conduct.""But setting fire to something because you don't agree with it is unacceptable behaviour and the councillors in question will be left in no doubt about my views of their conduct."
Ms Sturgeon's comments were stronger than earlier remarks by her social justice secretary Alex Neil, who described the stunt as "a silly prank", adding that it was "hardly a hanging offence".Ms Sturgeon's comments were stronger than earlier remarks by her social justice secretary Alex Neil, who described the stunt as "a silly prank", adding that it was "hardly a hanging offence".
The councillors carried out the burning after the 28-page report, which set out a list of new powers to be handed from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament, was published last week.The councillors carried out the burning after the 28-page report, which set out a list of new powers to be handed from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament, was published last week.
'Government strategy''Government strategy'
The cross-party commission, which included the SNP, was set up by Prime Minister David Cameron in the wake of the independence referendum "No" vote, but Scottish ministers said its final recommendations fell short of delivering the powers Scotland needed.The cross-party commission, which included the SNP, was set up by Prime Minister David Cameron in the wake of the independence referendum "No" vote, but Scottish ministers said its final recommendations fell short of delivering the powers Scotland needed.
As the councillors set fire to a document above a bin, Mr Mylet said: "The Smith Commission report - this is exactly what we think about it.As the councillors set fire to a document above a bin, Mr Mylet said: "The Smith Commission report - this is exactly what we think about it.
"No real powers for Scotland yet again from Westminster. We've been lied to again.""No real powers for Scotland yet again from Westminster. We've been lied to again."
As he dropped it into the bin he added: "There you go Gordon Brown - cheers."As he dropped it into the bin he added: "There you go Gordon Brown - cheers."
Mr Lawson then said: "Happy St Andrew's Day."Mr Lawson then said: "Happy St Andrew's Day."
Scottish Labour's interim leader, Anas Sarwar, said Ms Sturgeon needed to apologise personally to Lord Smith, who chaired the commission, and to the whole of Scotland.Scottish Labour's interim leader, Anas Sarwar, said Ms Sturgeon needed to apologise personally to Lord Smith, who chaired the commission, and to the whole of Scotland.
He said: "The first minister claims she wants to speak for all of Scotland, whether they voted 'Yes' or 'No'.He said: "The first minister claims she wants to speak for all of Scotland, whether they voted 'Yes' or 'No'.
"If she does not want to fail this test at the first hurdle, she must take immediate action to control the elements of her party who, through their disgraceful behaviour, appear determined to stir up division and grievance.""If she does not want to fail this test at the first hurdle, she must take immediate action to control the elements of her party who, through their disgraceful behaviour, appear determined to stir up division and grievance."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said Sturgeon's remarks were to her credit, but added: "The longer term challenge for the first minister is that these senior SNP members are not lone voices.Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said Sturgeon's remarks were to her credit, but added: "The longer term challenge for the first minister is that these senior SNP members are not lone voices.
"So many nationalists rose to the defence of the councillors in defiance of the SNP leadership.""So many nationalists rose to the defence of the councillors in defiance of the SNP leadership."
"Nicola Sturgeon still has a challenge to convince us her party stands for all of Scotland rather than just the 45% who backed her in the referendum.""Nicola Sturgeon still has a challenge to convince us her party stands for all of Scotland rather than just the 45% who backed her in the referendum."
Commenting on the incident earlier, Mr Neil told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It's a silly prank. I would hardly call it a hanging offence.Commenting on the incident earlier, Mr Neil told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It's a silly prank. I would hardly call it a hanging offence.
"I don't see how you can correlate a silly prank by a handful of individuals in Paisley with the overall strategy of the Scottish government and the SNP.""I don't see how you can correlate a silly prank by a handful of individuals in Paisley with the overall strategy of the Scottish government and the SNP."