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Nicola Sturgeon pledges to act against online abuse by SNP members | Nicola Sturgeon pledges to act against online abuse by SNP members |
(34 minutes later) | |
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has promised that SNP members who make abusive comments on social media will be disciplined. | Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has promised that SNP members who make abusive comments on social media will be disciplined. |
She made the pledge in a 740-word commentary in the Scottish Daily Mail. | She made the pledge in a 740-word commentary in the Scottish Daily Mail. |
The paper had accused Ms Sturgeon of having "close links to some of Scotland's most vile internet abusers". | The paper had accused Ms Sturgeon of having "close links to some of Scotland's most vile internet abusers". |
The tone of social media debate about Scottish politics has been raised in the Scottish Parliament chamber a number of times. | The tone of social media debate about Scottish politics has been raised in the Scottish Parliament chamber a number of times. |
Most recently SNP leader Ms Sturgeon condemned comments made on Twitter by Neil Hay, who was a nationalist candidate in Edinburgh South at May's general election. | |
Scottish Labour was also challenged to take action against party activist Ian Smart, who previously described the SNP as "fascist scum" online. | Scottish Labour was also challenged to take action against party activist Ian Smart, who previously described the SNP as "fascist scum" online. |
Writing in the Mail, Ms Sturgeon said: "I am making clear today that the SNP will take steps to warn those whose behaviour falls short of the standards we expect - we will tell them to raise their standard of debate, to stick to issues not personalities, and to ensure robust and passionate debate takes precedence over abuse and intemperate language. | Writing in the Mail, Ms Sturgeon said: "I am making clear today that the SNP will take steps to warn those whose behaviour falls short of the standards we expect - we will tell them to raise their standard of debate, to stick to issues not personalities, and to ensure robust and passionate debate takes precedence over abuse and intemperate language. |
"And I am also making clear that, where appropriate, we will take disciplinary action." | "And I am also making clear that, where appropriate, we will take disciplinary action." |
Ms Sturgeon, who follows 3,500 people and is followed by almost 230,000, said she could not personally keep track of everything said on Twitter. | Ms Sturgeon, who follows 3,500 people and is followed by almost 230,000, said she could not personally keep track of everything said on Twitter. |
But when tweets or postings from SNP members that "cross the line" are brought to the party's attention, she said: "We will act - as we have done before." | But when tweets or postings from SNP members that "cross the line" are brought to the party's attention, she said: "We will act - as we have done before." |
Ms Sturgeon added: "We must ensure that as politicians we set a good example and debate the issues not the insults. Raising the standard of debate is a responsibility across the board and I urge all parties to do as we have done - to say clearly that crossing the line will not be tolerated. | Ms Sturgeon added: "We must ensure that as politicians we set a good example and debate the issues not the insults. Raising the standard of debate is a responsibility across the board and I urge all parties to do as we have done - to say clearly that crossing the line will not be tolerated. |
"And then we should all stop feeding the trolls. The fact is that internet and social media is a huge positive for our political culture - and a tiny minority should not be allowed to destroy that." | "And then we should all stop feeding the trolls. The fact is that internet and social media is a huge positive for our political culture - and a tiny minority should not be allowed to destroy that." |
The first minister said it would be wrong to suggest that Twitter abuse was "one-way traffic". | The first minister said it would be wrong to suggest that Twitter abuse was "one-way traffic". |
"It spans the political spectrum. That is why, across all parties, we must send out a clear message that politics in Scotland will not be sullied by this behaviour." | "It spans the political spectrum. That is why, across all parties, we must send out a clear message that politics in Scotland will not be sullied by this behaviour." |
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