Labour demands statement on sectarianism in football legislation
Labour has demanded a statement from the Justice Secretary on the future of legislation to tackle sectarianism in football after Holyrood backed a call for its repeal.
Labour has demanded a statement from the Justice Secretary on the future of legislation to tackle sectarianism in football after Holyrood backed a call for its repeal.
James Kelly MSP, who has brought forward a Members' Bill aimed at axing the laws, called for Michael Matheson to deliver an urgent update to parliament.
On Wednesday MSPs voted by 64 to 63 in favour of a Tory motion urging SNP ministers to scrap the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act.
Opposition parties united to condemn the legislation, which criminalised offensive and threatening behaviour, including sectarian behaviour, related to football matches and any communications containing threats or incitement to religious hatred.
It came into force in 2012 after the SNP used its majority in the last Scottish Parliament to pass the Act. Speaking after the vote, Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing said it sent completely the wrong message'' about Scotland's commitment to combat prejudice, hate crime and sectarianism.
She said the Government would ''reflect on the debate and give full consideration to all of the issues raised'' but Mr Kelly said police, fans and prosecutors needed immediate clarity.
He said: There is a parliamentary majority in favour of repealing the law and I will soon formally lodge my proposals for repeal.
The SNP government needs to reflect hard on this result. Ministers have to reach out to other parties and find a consensus to tackle sectarianism.
This is a pressing issue; with the law set to be repealed the SNP government must outline immediately what their response to the vote and my Bill is.
This is a bad law producing negative outcomes. The law is confusing, leading to a lack of legal certainty. It has been widely criticised for 50% of the cases being brought forward relating to young men under 20.
To enforce it £2 million has been spent by Police Scotland to film supporters at the football rather than keeping our communities safe. This cannot be allowed to continue and that is why Justice Secretary Michael Matheson must set out urgently his plans for repeal.''
A Scottish Government spokesman said: As Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing has stated, the Act has strong public support and the vote threatens to set us back as a country in our efforts to effectively combat prejudice, hate crime and sectarianism and ultimately to drive such behaviour out of Scottish society.
The Scottish Government has set out its position, has responded to the vote and remains absolutely committed to tackling hate crime and sectarianism, but we have yet to see any viable alternatives from those who oppose the legislation.''