Scots opposition parties 'cannot back' anti-bigots bill

Old Firm derby, Rangers and Celtic fans The police say they need a law which can help them to tackle disorder at matches
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Scotland's main opposition parties have said they cannot support the government's anti-sectarianism bill.

Labour, the Tories, the Lib Dems and the Scottish Greens have dubbed the bill "muddled", "slapdash", "ill-thought-out" and a "shambles".

During a Holyrood debate later they will call for "greater consideration" to be given to using existing laws.

Although the SNP will not receive cross-party support it said it believed the bill was the right thing to do.

Labour, Tory and Lib Dem members of the Scottish Parliament's justice committee have already refused to support the proposed legislation as it stands.

The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill made it through the committee stage, but it is set to find opposition again when the full parliament debates the details.

The Scottish Labour Party has put forward an amendment which is being backed by all the opposition parties.

Part of it reads: "The Scottish government have failed to make the case for the requirement for new offences contained in the bill; that it lacks clarity, would lead to confusion, be difficult to enforce if implemented and cannot be supported."

The legislation aims to stamp out abusive behaviour, whether fans are watching matches in a stadium, in the pub or commenting online.
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Labour amendment to the bill

Add at end: "Notes the number of verbal and written submissions that raised concerns about bill; believes the Scottish government have failed to make the case for the requirement for new offences contained in the bill; that it lacks clarity, would lead to confusion, be difficult to enforce if implemented and cannot be supported; believes a more proportionate response to dealing with the problems around Scottish football would be to give greater consideration to use of existing laws, work with football authorities and promote positive interventions in communities and the education system."

It is backed by the police who believe they need the new law to tackle disorder and songs of "hatred, religion and terrorism".

However, the bill has attracted criticism not only from politicians but from fans' groups and clergymen.

The First Minister Alex Salmond had to win over the Roman Catholic Church's Bishop of Paisley Philip Tartaglia with a promised clause on freedom of speech.

After meeting the bishop, he said: "This legislation was never meant to stop freedom of expression in Scotland - it is about bearing down on sectarianism and other offensive behaviour in Scotland, and stopping the expression of bigotry and hatred that the overwhelming majority of people in this country wish to see come to an end."

Ahead of the Holyrood debate, Labour's James Kelly said his party was determined to tackle sectarianism, but he added that the SNP's handling of the bill had been "a shambles from the start".
'Clear warning sign'

Mr Kelly added: "Scottish Labour wants to support tough new measures to tackle sectarianism, but we refuse to back bad legislation for the sake of it. There is a real danger that if a bad law is passed, it could do more harm than good.

"Scottish Labour will use the debate today to highlight the flaws in the current bill and the need to take the issue forward beyond Scotland's football stadiums."

Scottish Tory MSP, John Lamont, believed the government had "totally failed" to make the case for new legislation.

He added: "This slapdash bill needs to be thought through more carefully because in its current form there is a distinct possibility of negative, unintended consequences that we simply cannot allow to happen.
Holyrood chamber MSPs will debate the anti-sectarianism bill in the parliament's chamber

"We all want to abolish the evils of sectarianism but the best way to achieve this is through robust, clear and vigorous legislation."

The Liberal Democrats called for the bill to withdrawn.

The party's Alison McInnes said: "It has been plain from the outset that this bill is ill-thought-out, rushed and will do little to address the underlying problems associated with sectarian behaviour.

"The SNP government have not made the case for this bill and the lack of any kind of consensus should act as a very clear warning sign that the bill is seriously flawed."

The Scottish Green Party urged the government to pause on the legislation and talk to other parties, to the clubs and to the "many others concerned about these proposals".

Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: "The SNP's proposals on sectarianism are a muddled and incoherent response to a serious problem. This process is primarily being driven by the first minister's desire to be seen to do something, not by any evidence that his plan would work."

The last time the matter was raised in the main chamber, Mr Salmond told opposition parties: "All of us have to make a choice.

"We can either be part of the backlash or part of the solution. I truly hope that most people in this parliament decide to be part of the solution."

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