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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| UKIP MEP David Coburn apologises for Abu Hamza comment | UKIP MEP David Coburn apologises for Abu Hamza comment |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Scotland MEP David Coburn says he has apologised for comparing a Scottish government minister to a convicted terrorist. | Scotland MEP David Coburn says he has apologised for comparing a Scottish government minister to a convicted terrorist. |
| In a newspaper interview the UKIP member said: "Humza Yousaf, or as I call him, Abu Hamza". | In a newspaper interview the UKIP member said: "Humza Yousaf, or as I call him, Abu Hamza". |
| In a comment to BBC Scotland he said: "I've apologised profusely for it. It was a stupid thing to say. It was an inappropriate joke." | In a comment to BBC Scotland he said: "I've apologised profusely for it. It was a stupid thing to say. It was an inappropriate joke." |
| Mr Yousaf has called for European officials to discipline the MEP. | Mr Yousaf has called for European officials to discipline the MEP. |
| Scotland's minister for external affairs and international development told BBC Scotland the comment was "Islamophobic" and "among the worst racial slurs" he had ever received. | Scotland's minister for external affairs and international development told BBC Scotland the comment was "Islamophobic" and "among the worst racial slurs" he had ever received. |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage said Mr Coburn's remarks were a "joke in poor taste" but he would not be taking any action against him. | UKIP leader Nigel Farage said Mr Coburn's remarks were a "joke in poor taste" but he would not be taking any action against him. |
| However, the UKIP MP Douglas Carswell condemned the remarks while speaking on the BBC's HARDtalk programme. | |
| He said: "I don't defend the comments made by the Scottish UKIP MEP at all. They were disgraceful comments to make and I have no truck with those comments." | |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| Glenn Campbell, BBC Scotland political correspondent | Glenn Campbell, BBC Scotland political correspondent |
| UKIP said David Coburn had apologised to Humza Yousaf. | UKIP said David Coburn had apologised to Humza Yousaf. |
| They said he would be making no further comment on what a spokesman described as a "non-story". | They said he would be making no further comment on what a spokesman described as a "non-story". |
| But that's unlikely to be the last word on the matter. | But that's unlikely to be the last word on the matter. |
| Mr Yousaf said he was taking "legal advice" to see if he could pursue a complaint under legislation against race or religious hatred. | Mr Yousaf said he was taking "legal advice" to see if he could pursue a complaint under legislation against race or religious hatred. |
| It has also emerged that the Scottish government is inviting MSPs to vote to express their disapproval. | It has also emerged that the Scottish government is inviting MSPs to vote to express their disapproval. |
| Cabinet minister Alex Neil has tabled an amendment to a motion celebrating Scotland's diverse communities. | Cabinet minister Alex Neil has tabled an amendment to a motion celebrating Scotland's diverse communities. |
| It says parliament "unites in condemning the recent comments by David Coburn MEP". | It says parliament "unites in condemning the recent comments by David Coburn MEP". |
| MSPs will decide on Wednesday whether or not to endorse that rebuke to Scotland's most outspoken Euro MP. | MSPs will decide on Wednesday whether or not to endorse that rebuke to Scotland's most outspoken Euro MP. |
| The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, condemned the remarks, saying they were "not worthy of any elected member". | The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, condemned the remarks, saying they were "not worthy of any elected member". |
| But the spokesman said the president could not act on remarks made outside parliament. | But the spokesman said the president could not act on remarks made outside parliament. |
| Radical cleric Abu Hamza was sentenced to life in prison for a string of terrorism offences by a judge in New York in January, after being extradited from the UK. | Radical cleric Abu Hamza was sentenced to life in prison for a string of terrorism offences by a judge in New York in January, after being extradited from the UK. |
| Hamza, who previously lived in London, was jailed in the UK for seven years in 2006 for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred. | Hamza, who previously lived in London, was jailed in the UK for seven years in 2006 for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred. |
| Mr Coburn's comments were reportedly made over the telephone to Daily Mail reporter Alan Roden during a conversation about the BBC Scotland's Big Immigration Debate, which took place earlier this week. | Mr Coburn's comments were reportedly made over the telephone to Daily Mail reporter Alan Roden during a conversation about the BBC Scotland's Big Immigration Debate, which took place earlier this week. |
| The MEP is reported to have said: "Humza Yousaf, or as I call him, Abu Hamza, didn't seem to turn up." | The MEP is reported to have said: "Humza Yousaf, or as I call him, Abu Hamza, didn't seem to turn up." |
| Earlier this week a UKIP spokesman denied the comparison had been made and said it was a "slip of the tongue" on Mr Coburn's part. | Earlier this week a UKIP spokesman denied the comparison had been made and said it was a "slip of the tongue" on Mr Coburn's part. |
| But Mr Roden said it was neither a misunderstanding or "a joke". | But Mr Roden said it was neither a misunderstanding or "a joke". |
| Speaking on BBC Scotland's Scotland 2015 programme on Monday, he said: "David, unsolicited, named Humza Yousaf and used this phrase. It was not banter in a pub, even though it was a chat between a journalist and a politician. It's very serious indeed." | Speaking on BBC Scotland's Scotland 2015 programme on Monday, he said: "David, unsolicited, named Humza Yousaf and used this phrase. It was not banter in a pub, even though it was a chat between a journalist and a politician. It's very serious indeed." |
| Speaking on the BBC's Daily Politics programme Mr Farage said: "I haven't spoken to David Coburn about it. I can only guess he's either saying he's a terrorist or he's telling a joke in poor taste. I suspect it's a joke in poor taste. | Speaking on the BBC's Daily Politics programme Mr Farage said: "I haven't spoken to David Coburn about it. I can only guess he's either saying he's a terrorist or he's telling a joke in poor taste. I suspect it's a joke in poor taste. |
| When asked if he would be taking action against Mr Coburn he said: "People do make mistakes. I don't think David Coburn should have done that. But am I going to get terribly exercised about it? No." | When asked if he would be taking action against Mr Coburn he said: "People do make mistakes. I don't think David Coburn should have done that. But am I going to get terribly exercised about it? No." |
| Mr Yousaf has written to Mr Farage demanding that Mr Coburn, who is Scotland's only UKIP MEP, is expelled from the party. | Mr Yousaf has written to Mr Farage demanding that Mr Coburn, who is Scotland's only UKIP MEP, is expelled from the party. |
| The SNP MSP said he was taking legal advice on the matter. | The SNP MSP said he was taking legal advice on the matter. |