Muddled legislation was doomed to fail

THE Offensive Behaviour at Football Act was once colourfully described as ‘mince’ by a sheriff and the death knell for this inadequate law was sounded in Holyrood yesterday.

In a setback for an SNP used to Holyrood votes being a mere formality, MSPs voted 65 to 61 to begin the process of removing the Act from the statute books.

It is not a green light for sectarianism, which scars Scottish football even in the 21st century. Existing legislation could still be brought to bear, not least breach of the peace, which in theory could result in a life sentence. Other laws relating to violent or threatening behaviour are also applicable.

Which brings us to how this legal ‘mince’ was brought forward in the first place.

Opponents argued all along the Act was unnecessary and risked driving a wedge between fans and police and criminalising songs. They warned singing the National Anthem or Flower of Scotland could put you in the dock.

Yet on Holyrood pressed, desperate to be seen to be doing something, anything, to tackle the blight of sectarianism.

This never-mind-the-quality, feel-the-width approach is the antithesis of what Holyrood was supposed to be.

We were promised an adroit parliament able to react rapidly to the needs of Scots and that its committee structure would ensure flawless legislation.

Scotland has very many problems – the NHS, education, transport, the economy. We need MSPs to focus like lasers on these issues, not deliver muddled twaddle that they must then unpick.