Tories lead bid to scrap ‘unfair and unworkable’ football law

THE Scottish Tories are to lead a bid to repeal legislation aimed at tackling sectarianism.

The SNP used its majority in the last Scottish parliament to pass the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act (2012) despite a lack of opposition support.

With Nicola Sturgeon’s party returning as a minority administration, the Tories, who are the second largest party at Holyrood, want to bring forward new legislation to scrap it, describing it as ‘unfair and unworkable’.

Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens all pledged to repeal the Act in their election manifestos.

Labour’s James Kelly said he also plans to bring forward a Member’s Bill to scrap it.

The legislation criminalised offensive and threatening behav-

‘They must listen to other voices’

iour, including sectarian behaviour, related to football matches and any communications containing threats or incitement to religious hatred.

A report published earlier this year revealed there were only 79 convictions in 201 -15 under the legislation, with opposition parties stating the figures demonstrated the law is unnecessary.

Scottish Tory chief whip John Lamont said: ‘Having prevented the SNP from gaining an overall majority, we can now use the powers of the parliament to scrap some of the bad laws they passed in the last one.

‘We believe there is a majority in the new parliament to end this absurd law.’

Mr Kelly said: ‘Labour will work with other parties in the Scottish parliament to repeal the Football Act.’

A spokesman for the Scottish Liberal Democrats said: ‘Now they have lost seats they have to listen to other voices.’

An SNP spokesman said: ‘It speaks volumes about Labour’s priorities that they see teaming up with the Tories to try and scrap such laws as the most important issue facing Scotland.’