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The hungry gamekeepers

Posted on October 31, 2016 by

Old media and new media spoke with one voice in Scotland today:

recordcsobfa

But for once it was the dead-tree press that held the moral high ground.

Labour MSP James Kelly today published all the responses to his consultation on the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour (Football) Act, which poll after poll has consistently shown as one of the most overwhelmingly and universally popular pieces of legislation ever to be enacted in Scotland, uniting voters in support across party lines and every possible demographic line.

Readers may perhaps be less than entirely astonished to find that Kelly’s survey was an embarrassing mess. This was our favourite question:

obfastrictkelly

That’s actually three questions rolled into one, two of which contradict each other, to which hapless participants were offered the reply options “Yes” or “No” – or the only answer that anyone could actually give honestly, “Unsure”.

(A functionally-identical question would be “Do you like fruit? If so, would you like a banana, or would you like an apple? Yes or No?”)

Respondents were entirely self-selecting, unfiltered and unweighted, giving the survey roughly the same amount of scientific validity as there’d be if this website decided to conduct a Twitter poll on independence. (There’s something of a theme to the groups who sent in submissions. See if you can spot it.)

obfaorgs

In fairness, many of the responses were considered and enlightening, offering many thought-provoking arguments and observations. Here are the first two we clicked on genuinely at random from the 3000-plus individual PDFs on the website, which take diametrically opposing positions and make their cases strongly:

ofbaresponse

ofbaresponse2

It’s fabulous stuff. “I oppose the law, but I have no idea what the advantages or disadvantages of repealing it would be, I have no idea what should be done instead to combat sectarianism, and I have no opinion on threatening communications. I just want to sing about Fenian blood and Derry’s walls.”

Some went into more detail, of course.

obfaresponse1

A plea for the cherished human right to express hate by singing, there.

But we digress (although it’s perhaps worth pointing out that the survey’s respondents were also keen to repeal the part of the law against sending individuals direct threats, an altogether uglier form of “free speech” which we suspect will be hastily glossed over by the Act’s opponents).

The more interesting thing was to note that while the Daily Record made Kelly’s meaningless dossier of bigot’s grievances its front-page lead, it at least didn’t pretend that it was something it wasn’t. The careful wording made no spurious claims – it’s technically true to say that “thousands of fans” backed repeal. Specifically, just over TWO thousand.

obfapoll

Which is very nearly enough to fill the stadium of Inverurie Loco Works.

locoworks

While highly misleading, it’s also not strictly inaccurate to describe the Act as the “hated Offensive Behavious law”. It only takes one person to hate something for it to be hated, after all.

But for a cover splash the Record’s tone and coverage seemed rather reluctant. The story got just 337 words in total, of which more than half (181) were quotes, and other than a highly dubious use of “massive public support” in the opening paragraph, reads like the absolute bare minimum the Labour-friendly paper thought it could get away with on a slow news day.

Common Space, however, went into full propaganda-foghorn mode, headlining their piece with the wildly inaccurate claim that “Over 70% of Scots want to scrap offensive behaviour law”.

Since 3,248 (the total number of respondents) is not 70% of the population and the survey wasn’t in any way demographically balanced in order to allow that number to be extrapolated to represent the entire nation (as a properly selected and weighted poll by a real polling company can be), that’s a blatantly false assertion.

And where the Record had split its 181 words of quotes fairly equally between Kelly (104) and a Scottish Government spokesman (77), Common Space didn’t trouble itself with any such balance, quoting more of Kelly’s press release than the Record had (122 words) but not bothering to give the Scottish Government a single word of reply.

We expect the broadcast media to cover the story at considerable length tonight, which would be unjustifiable in itself. (Although it may hold off until Wednesday, when a symbolic vote will take place in the Holyrood chamber that the SNP may well lose.)

What’s more disappointing is that on this subject, their supposed scrutineers are in fact even less trustworthy.

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Walter Scott

It wouldn’t matter if this act reduced sectarianism at football grounds or even if in some small way reduced violence. The hilarious James Kelly is just trying to trip the SG up using any means. If this waste of space was forced to do a real job his limited intelligence would probably condemn him to gathering shopping trolleys in Asda car parks for the rest of his employable life. No offence to trolley gatherers.

Stoker

“Labour MSP James Kelly..”

Enough said! The guy is a chancer with nothing substantial to offer the electorate. Thick as shit in the neck of a bottle and twice as smelly.

The vast majority of Scotland’s electorate don’t want your sectarian songs of division and hatred anywhere near our sporting arenas.

Scotland is progressing into the 21st century whether irresponsible morons such as JK like it or not.

Either get with the programme or fester in the past with your Slabber Party and your red top BUM rag.

mike cassidy

That disgracefully misleading headline means Commonspace has just stooped to the same level as the worst tabloids.

I started to register on the site to point this out – then thought, why bother?

I’ll just delete them from my favourites list.

liz

The BBC guy seems to think all the other parties will vote for abolition.

Do Green supporters think your party will do that?

Desert Nat

Sad to read of the dreadful state DR has reached, I haven’t picked it up in 30years however my grandparents used to set great store in its reasonable tabloid journalism.

Brian Powell

If the Act is repealed the feeble excuse will that sectarianism can be educated out of the fans, probably over the next 20 years.

So after over a hundred years of not doing that, the next decades will.

Kelly is simply thick, the chaotic questions show that. The Tories will vote for repeal to satisfy its OO voters.

So it will be up to the Greens to unleash blatant sectarianism again with their vote.

crazycat

@ liz

link to greens.scot

This is one of many reasons why I will never again vote for the Green Party.

donald anderson

Charter for bams

Bob Mack

In fairness Mr Kelly is not famed for his cerebral functions. Indeed he is more famed for the lack thereof. We recently saw for ourselves events in Scotland and England that means leaving the poison that happens at grounds unchecked has very real consequences.

It is a good law with sound reasons .

donald anderson

Did he divide them equally between Kafflicks and Prodistents?

Vestas

@ mike cassidy 6:49pm

commonspace has been “dodgy” for a fair old while now IMHO.

Its always amusing watching the animals (“activists”) turn into the pigs (“establishment”) as they get their snouts in the trough.

Haggerty has her snout well engaged for a while now with MSM “recognition”, judge the results yourselves….

harry mcaye

I don’t believe Common Space is short of Celtic supporters among its members.

Ken500

No wonder the terraces are empty. The major clubs in debt.

carjamtic

@Stoker

Well said and they wonder why even the Tories are laughing in their faces….is he really an MSP in our parliament ?….more like a seller of snake oil (s).

P.S. I attempted to answer his poll questions,I gave up in the end, had a rant about zero tolerance for violence and I supported the act…..shit questions,badly laid out.

Ian Foulds

Well said Stoker at 6.44pm

Stoker

Rev wrote:

“Common Space, however, went into full propaganda-foghorn mode, headlining their piece with the wildly inaccurate claim that “Over 70% of Scots want to scrap offensive behaviour law”.”

That puts the lid firmly on Common Space’ coffin as far as i’m concerned.

Also, they state; “Over 70% of Scots..”? Really? I’d be willing to bet that a substantial number of the participants come from certain parts of Ireland, or at the very least their great great grannies once tried a sip of Guinness on the London Road.
😉

David

There is a bigger picture here. That is- we need to start a campaign to change our electoral system to stop these people who have lost an election being empowered to rule over us. Allowing rejects in to government is disrespectful to the electorate. They know a nugget heid when they see one and don’t tend to vote for them. Change the system Scotland.

liz

@crazycat – that’s really annoying.

They could easily argue for amendments but out right ban is wrong

Socrates MacSporran

James Kelly MSP is of course, a well-known, some might say prominent, member of “The Celtic Family”.

Angela Haggerty, Editor of Common Space – could also, indeed has been, identified as a member of the same “Celtic Family”.

They, therefore, have an axe to grind here. TCF (I shall use this acronym for The Celtic Family from here on), was pleased to see OBFA (the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act) introduced, since they thought it would see hundreds, even thousands of Rangers fans arrested for singing their favourite ditties – partciularly the one about being: “Up to our knees in Fenian blood”.

This has not happened.

TCF also claim, since they do not sing songs underlined by religious bigotry, but, political songs refering to the Irish freedom struggle – then that was alright.

Sadly for them, the Police, when they have acted, have treated some of the Celtic “Party Songs” the same way as they have treated the Rangers ones – as offensive behaviour at football.

This, as TCF sees it, wasn’t supposed to happen. They, TCF are the “good guys”, “Ra Peepul” on the other cheek of Scottish football’s bigotry arse are the bad guys.

The rest – the other 40 “Diddy Clubs”, don’t matter. This overlooks the fact, if you put in the same stadium, at the same time, for instance, fans of Ayr United and Kilmarnock; Hearts and Hibs; Raith Rovers and Dunfermline Athletic; Dundee and Dundee United, St Mirren and Morton and, most specifically, Auchinleck Talbot and Cumnock – then, you will undoubtedly get examples of offensive behaviour of football.

As a sports writer of over 40-years’ experience, I can say – OBFA is bad law; it was hurriedly rushed through, poorly thought-out and, unnecessary – strict enforcement of the old Breach of the Peace laws would, I am sure, have worked as well, probably better than OBFA has.

However, OBFA is better than nothing. Amend it, yes; scrap it, most-certainly not.

However, in my opinion, the enforcement of “Strict Liability” by the SFA, on the clubs, would be the best means of eliminating offensive behaviour at football.

Unfortunately, the will to do this simply does not exist within Scottish Football, and, it will surely transpire that the Scottish Government will be forced to intervene and impose perhaps draconian measures on the unwilling-to-act-otherwise Scottish football establishment.

Mr Kelly is, I feel, trying to win kudos from TCF.

As for Ms Haggerty; in my view, she is on the low side of average as a writer, but, and I use in making this judgement the absolute dog’s dinner she made of editing Phil Mac Giolla Bhain’s otherwise excellent book on Rangers’ troubles: ‘Downfall’ – she’s a shite sub-editor or editor.

Craig Murray

Commonspace is degenerating into a tremendous disappointment.

bjsalba

I think the SG should put in an amendment to have Mr James Kelly draft a Replacement Bill, (without any help from any unelected pesky bureaucrats – aka civil servants) and then let it go through parliamentary procedure in the normal way.

frogesque

I was 17 when I moved to Scotland with my folks some 50 odd years ago. Never knew what a Catholic or Pro distant was until the.

Then some pals encouraged me to go to football games.

The sectarian bigotry is just plain evil. It shames Scotland and repeal of the OBFA, however imperfect, would reset the clock to the 1960s.

Yes, a time of slums, shoeless bare arsed kids and funny handshakes stuffed with brown envelopes, hospital A&Es closed on Old Firm match days. Oh, and Labour votes weighed, not counted.

Modern Scotland deserves better, keep the Act, improve it to make it better, end school segregration and educate our kids to respect and learn from others of different faiths and customs.

The police could also man up as well, insist the major clubs improve their control or play behind closed doors.

Ian MacDonald

It’s sad to see Common Space reduced to this. It was an invaluable resource during the first indyref, but in my opinion (and apparently others as well) has been heading downhill at quite a pace for the last few months.

Hope they can turn it around.

One_Scot

Lol, Budge has changed his photo, probably didn’t want to get recognised by the Old Bill. #LMAO.

Brian Doonthetoon

I don’t think I’ll ever forget the in-depth profile of James Kelly, which was published in February, 2014.

Here’s a quote from it:-

“Our hero James Kelly MSP rose from humble origins to an even humbler condition today. James’s parents were too wee, too poor and too unimaginative to give him a middle name.

“Such things are not for the likes of us”, said his father. “One given name is all we have, because we’re dependent on others to give us anything.”

That’s from:-
link to bbc.scotlandshire.co.uk

galamcennalath

I speak from a position of ignorance, so I will say very little.

I have never been to a football match in my life and at this late stage almost certainly never will.

I have attended many large crowd events and while there is always petty crime, I have never experienced collective bad behaviour at any time which appears to be far from uncommon at football matches. I just find it a bit of a mystery – why it happens, and more importantly why there seems to be an inexplicable degree of toleration?

Any actions which are intended to force a minority of wayward football ‘supporters’ towards normal and expected public behaviour must be a good thing.

Jack Collatin

Open letter to Patrick Harvie:

Dear Patrick,

3248 responses to an ‘Are You A Demon Lover’ level of reactionnaire, as opposed to the 5,394,752 of us who didn’t feel the need, hardly constitutes a mandate to back Kelly, WATP Tomkins, and The Queen’s Eleven Fraser in their petty wee stunt to embarrass the sitting government.
Given what is going on in our world right now, is this the murky wee sectarian level of petty gesture politics in which the Green party wish to wallow in the company of this grubby wee nest of chancers?
We shall remember.

One_Scot

Sorry he doesn’t exist any more.

[…] Wings Over Scotland The hungry gamekeepers Old media and new media spoke with one voice in Scotland today: But for once it was […]

Brian Doonthetoon

Hi Socrates MacSporran.

You typed,
“This overlooks the fact, if you put in the same stadium, at the same time, for instance… Dundee and Dundee United”

The situation in Dundee is, strangely unique. There’s a pub called “Frew’s” at the Coldside Circle; around five minutes walk from both grounds. One Saturday, it’s a Dundee pub; the next Saturday it’s a United pub.

The party on Hogmanay sees fans of both Dundee teams in the same pub. Nae bathir… The footie fans in Dundee are not separated by the differences you may have experienced elsewhere in Scotland. Yes, there’s banter but nothing like the “banter” found in Glasgow, for example.

(I never thought I’d do a post on WOS about footie – sorry Ruby…)

liz

Hope Green supporters get in touch with their MSPs about this.

Had a quick look at the OBFA & it does cover some serious issues such as incitement to violence against folk of different race, sexual orientation or religion.

Something you would think the Greens would support.

The fat spanaird

James Kelly is thicker than shot on a soiled nappy and speaks from his waste expulsion pipe

crazycat

@ liz

Unfortunately, the Greens were quite clear in their manifesto that they would back Kelly. I don’t know how many people who voted for them actually read the manifesto, but this isn’t a new position for the party (though it mystifies me, too).

And Harvie went on about it at their conference just recently, as well. I would guess there’s no chance they’ll change their minds. I understand that they need to be different from the SNP, and when it comes to things like expanding Heathrow I agree with them. But this particular issue seems a poor tactic to get what they say they want.

yesindyref2

Sorry, what was the question again?

Graeme

“The situation in Dundee is, strangely unique. There’s a pub called “Frew’s” at the Coldside Circle; around five minutes walk from both grounds. One Saturday, it’s a Dundee pub; the next Saturday it’s a United pub.”

Football rivalry in Dundee is exactly how it should be, no religion no politics just football, sure there are nutters on either side of the street but they’re a minority by in large it’s good natured rivalry

Just hope Dundee can stay up this season so we can get the derbies back

Graeme

tartanfever

Breaking News:

Angela Haggerty supports male only panels, or as they like to call them ‘manels’

I saw a video on Common Space with her and three other blokes last week and I see she’s taking part in a meeting next week with another male only panel.

Can someone please break this news to Kirsty Strickland and WFI mediawatch.

Andrew Mclean

Oh mr Kelly you really are a sanctimonious idiot, actually I have spent most of my adult life treating the bigotry you espoused like terminal cancer. Let me tell you what you are. An embarrassment to your party, an embarrassment to your heritage and embarrassment to political life in Scotland.
I do however like yore singing of IRA songs, the passion you express when talking of killing British soldiers is I am sure hart felt, just one question, wearing a poppy this year?

I fuckng dare you!

heedtracker

Another classic rational debate versus fcuk wits. If democracy means anything at all, its the right to tell some people what they don’t want to hear. George Orwell, roughly.

If there’s one thing that Rangers and Celtic fans are really adept at, its winding each other up. But why should everyone else have to put up with it.

Arabs for Independence

Graeme @ 8:17pm

Totally agree with you about Frews and football in the city of Dundee.

Smallaxe

We’re up to our knees in tragedian mud and it could make me cry when I hear their sectarian silly noise!

Peace Always

Andrew Mclean

Head tracker

Because it’s disease of our country. And ignore it at our peril, the Westminster government used it to control Ireland, but we are bigger than that, our country will be united.

One Scotland for all Scotland, whatever your race political affiliation or religion, creed or colour.

Leave blood and soil nationalism for the BNP, NF, the UKIP, and tories.

yesindyref2

Interesting. I have no personal views on this, I don’t go to football matches and if I did have the time, it would be the Juniors, not the overpaid prima donna leg clutching Oscar-fail premier league or others. Diddums.

Greens – attitude to repealing a bill because it’s not perfect. OK, let’s repeal the Murder Act because some people get convicted wrongly, and some get off by mistake, and we all have to worry in case our self defence goes too far. Next step, the right to carry arms.

From Commonspace: “Public consultation into offensive behaviour at football and threatening communications laws find clear public opposition”

As this article points out, there’s asbolutely nothing “clear” about it. It’s a mess.

In general about Commonspace though, if it supports Labour initiatives like escorted out of Holyrood Kelly’s, perhaps it can get closer to the remains of the Labour vote in Scotland, and get a YES from them in Indy Ref 2, in which case it’s worth it. It can reach the parts that other SNPs can’t. Haggerty? Very disappointing writer, I had higher expectations.

Grouse Beater

One more for the infamous list: link to wp.me

Balaaargh

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Haud the presses!

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal service are listed as respondents???

Graeme

Arabs for Independence says:
31 October, 2016 at 8:31 pm

Graeme @ 8:17pm

Totally agree with you about Frews and football in the city of Dundee.

I wasn’t the one that made the comment about Frews pub that was
Brian Doonthetoon

Graeme

yesindyref2

@Grouse
“Nelson … five ships were captained by Scots, his crews Scots, Welsh and Irish”

Interesting, I didn’t know that. Didn’t even think about it.

JamesCaithness

It seems to me that the unionists will try anything that may cause division.

heedtracker

Andrew Mclean says:
31 October, 2016 at 8:40 pm
Head tracker

No I meant some fans don’t want to be told to shut up. If Rangers club could get to them to be nice, they might even get a shot at an English league. There’s a big tear running down my nose at thought of them finally getting to play where they so rightly belong but have no chance, in reality. They’d do well to start in League 1.

Its not like it cant happen, Swansea City style. But a lot of old school fans in Scotland really look forward to Rangers games too.

Iain More

The only people I know who want this Law scrapped are bigoted hate filled Yoons who should be in padded cells. 70% of Scots want it scrapped my arse!

I wont be clicking into Commomspace any time soon if ever if this is an example of what we can expect from them.

PS I am starting to get annoyed with the you are posting too fast crud.

Liz g

Not being a fan of football and like one of the posters above never having been to a game (never even sat through one on TV,preffering to watch paint dry)
But living in the Central Belt I can appreciate the need to do something about the Bigotry.

So while this act definitely has it’s faults and yes it is impossible to arrest half a stadium of people the fact that the behaviour is anti social enough to merit it own law is a huge statement to make.

It’s not how many times people get away with breaking this law that’s important here,its the fact that when they behave in that way they ARE breaking the Law.
No I don’t think it should have been made a Law.
But now that it has to reverse it looks like society is saying that we were wrong to disprove and now this is perfectly ok to do.

Personally speaking if I were the SNP I wouldn’t play games,I would let it be known to the MSPs that.
This vote is a quid pro quo.
Pick at our attempts to softly eradicate this scourge in our society and we will integrate the school’s.
We won’t play about with the Club’s while they’re trying to protect their money.
We won’t mess with anyone’s freedom of speech.
We are done with initiative after initiative.

I suspect that preventing their chance’s to nurture the next generation of bigotry will focus their minds.
It’s probably what they should have done in the first place.
Surely the Greens could support that?

yesindyref2

@Iain More
Maybe, but the comments seem to me to be appearing a whole load faster.

Andrew Mclean

Small axe

You are my Brother.
I have never met you and probably never will,
But in all sincerity I care dearly for you and your family.

You are part of the common weal of Scotland, our heart, as was Mr Shah, Mr Surjit Singh Chhokar,
And every man who wished the best for our country.

The JKR, spanner and orange order, you really need to get a grip. But a story for you,
During the last armed rebellion in Scotland, a girl called Flora McDonald, apparently helped the most dangerous man in Britain escape.

Later on she supported the British in the American war of independence. Funny that? Is that what Kezia is doing.

By the way, I am eligible for an Irish passport? Really? What happened there, I could trace my family tree 5 generations before Flodden.

Perhaps they like the cut of my Jib?

Ruby

My solution to these problems would be to ban spectator football.

Surely it would be much better if all these men did some sport instead of sitting about watching others play sport & ending up being a drain on our NHS.

Orri

The majority of those wanting the OBFA repealed seem to be Celtic fans. Might that be because it spoils their cage rattling fun? Whereas previously you got more convictions of Rangers fans due to the more blatant nature of their songs now the concept of context has been introduced.

Now that it has it might be said that the act has served its purpose and might be safely repealed in exchange for a formal reference to context in Disturbance of the Peace laws so there are no banned songs just a common sense don’t intimidate or deliberately piss people of kind of thing.

Dr Jim

Did the survey cover the definition of the word reapeal repeel reapeel…. repeal
It’s just that this survey was aimed at people who pay other people a lot of money to let them be offensive whilst providing a policeman to stare at them and a seat not to sit on

Just a thought

Andrew Mclean

ORRI,

You haven’t the slightest understanding of the subject you are posting about, have you?

Paul Wilson

Going by the attendances at Scottish Football these days this act will hardly matter thanks to the morons and the Glasgow mafia that run or should I say run in to the ground our game you would have to say job done they have destroyed it far more men go shopping with their other half’s than go to watch the rigged game that masquerades as Football. Scottish Football R.I.P. killed by Blatant bias towards the ugly sisters and total disregard to those that don’t support these two and with the joke of a National team in their Pink strips our game is DEAD!

Liz g

Ruby @ 9.06
I think there’s too much money involved to simply ban it.
And I think we also have to remember lot’s of people enjoy it.

I do remember reading that there’s also some sort of emotional value to it,channeling the hunter gatherer instinct that isn’t being used up in modern lifestyles.
Apparently that’s why it’s male dominated and can be the catalyst for aggression and mob mentality!
It’s supposed to be a form of cathartic release,the theory being all that energy has to go somewhere.

But I,and I suspect you have very little time for understanding the behaviour and would rather get serious about making it extinct…so to speak.
So the key to it is probably going to be all about the money.

yesindyref2

Absolutely totally OT:

link to archive.is

I used to know a couple of pilots with Loganair, one was my instructor when I used to have money and no responsibilities apart from getting to the pub before it shut.

The Express is surprisingly good for some stuff. Pity about the rabidness of MacFadyen, she does it a disservice. I used to love the Giles cartoons many years ago. A pictorial way of getting the news and laugh at it 🙂

heedtracker

Liz g says:
31 October, 2016 at 9:00 pm
Not being a fan of football and like one of the posters above never having been to a game (never even sat through one on TV,preffering to watch paint dry)

Ah Liz. Get em young. Its changed completely since the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s but for young sports fans, like me, I could bore you to death with the sheer joy, and horrors, that football brought. The things we saw. You have no idea. I have even stood in Ally MacLeod’s living room, kitchen, garage, and garden, after he’s was one of Aberdeen greats. Sir Alex Ferguson once phoned our house to get hold of one his sons at Hogmanay, in his first ever season at Man U. His son wasn’t around but even to a drunk teenage fan, me, he was really lovely. His wife’s the funny one though:D

TB

Wow. Just after Derek Bateman’s myopic denial of BBC bias towards Scotland, here comes the increasingly unimportant Common spaceheads with their worst performance yet. Absolutely disgusting.

Grendel

Sadly I’m sure the Greens will support Kelly. If they do they will be letting all of us who are sick to the back teeth of sectarianism and were delighted when a government finally had the balls to do something about it.
The repeal of the OBFA will be a black day in Scottish history and will be remembered for a long, long time.

Robert J. Sutherland

Oh crivvens! A miserable couple of thousand of the usual suspects stand up for vile sectarian behaviour and it’s 70% of Scots? What? =wince= “I don’t believe it!” (To coin a phrase.)

Where exactly are CommonSpace going with this? Have they no better cause these days to which they can devote their attentions? Is their ambition so etiolated now that they aim to become mere Labourite fellow-travellers? (Sailors jumping onto a sinking ship, so to speak.)

Andrew Mclean

Liz g,
That is the same argument used to defend violent and child pornography? It causes no harm and is a release?
?

Maren

Interesting exchange from the CommonSpace writer’s Twitter feed, where he has also admitted that the article is wrong and the headline misleading.

abigdoob ?@abigdoob 1h1 hour ago

@David_Jamieson7 @1975Thomson @jamieszymko See the source is Scot Lab press release. Did it come direct or 2nd hand via BBC?

David Jamieson ?@David_Jamieson7 1h1 hour ago

@abigdoob @1975Thomson @jamieszymko Direct. After a phone call from the director general.

Andrew Mclean

What is hallowe’en fib night now?

Head tracker
“but for young sports fans, like me”

In your dreams!

🙂

Lochside

The title of this should be the ‘Careless Beekeeper’. Let’s face it, Kelly’s face should be redder than a tomato with this latest bullshit attempt to ’embarass’ the SNP.

Last week a wee boy was smashed on the head with a bottle thrown by a thug. There were around 15-18 arrests at or around the game. Ten years ago there were on average several murders because of these fixtures between the old firm. Go back a hundred years and it’s a litany of mayhem. Why?..because both clubs grew big and rich on manufactured hatred and bigotry.

Surprisingly many people on here are non football folk…or should I say ‘fitba’ ( not the detestable ‘footie’ as invented by middle class English celebs). Most games in Scotland now, outwith the Old Firm are small and violence free affairs played in front of small crowds. The media and other factors have killed the Scottish game and left us with a ‘binary choice’ to quote Fanny May. That of the ugly twosome.

Sectarianism of the orange variety does exist in several other clubs, but it’s low level. Arrests are few and nearly all the arrests are Rangers and Celtic. So let them repeal the Act…people forget the disgraceful attacks on Neil Lennon that prompted amongst the other deaths and assaults the SNP to try to do the right thing…and see what the New Year game brings with the clash of bigots.
Will James Kelly’s face be 40 shades of puce when the butcher’s bill is toted up?…I doubt it.

macnakamura

Socrates MacSporran
” TCF (I shall use this acronym for The Celtic Family from here on), was pleased to see OBFA (the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act) introduced, ”
==========
You know this?

It is not my recollection of how the ‘TCF’ responded to the Parliamentary consultation prior to enactment.
I will be happy to acknowledge my mistake if you provide some evidence.

FatCandy

Kelly has just completely and utterly fucked what little chance Labour had at the council elections.

yesindyref2

OT again
Carney is to leave the Bank of England after Brexit, in 2019.

link to archive.is

I want him for our Central bank.

Ruby

Liz g

Does that mean that these men are not getting enough exercise and as a result they have difficulty handling their emotions.

It’s all very sad!

Robert J. Sutherland

FatCandy @ 21:45,

They see it the other way. Pander to a sectarian hard core, the main supporters they have left, in the hope it’s enough to keep them afloat in their former heartlands next May.

So they think. Mistakenly.

Smallaxe

Andrew McLean:

I thank you for your kindness Brother,our Hearts are One.

Peace and Love to You and those who You Love

My heart is in my words.

Peter. Edinburgh

This law was never about sectarianism. The words sectarian and sectarianism do not appear anywhere in the Act. Fans from 16 different clubs have been charged under this Act. Aberdeen fans are the ‘worse’ for arrests under this Act per head of number of fans. This Act was never wanted by Celtic fans. I have seen fans from all over Scotland protest against this Act. This Act has a very poor conviction rate. This is the worse piece of legislation introduced by the Scottish Parliament. There is a majority of MSPs to get it overturned. The ignorance on this site is shocking.

Jockanese Wind Talker

The Tories will use this repeal to show they are standing up for the ‘blue/orange’ side, their Queen and Union and will say they have earned their vote.

BLiS will use this repeal to show they are standing up for the ‘green’ side and deserve their votes again (they are that far behind the times of Politics in Scotland).

The MSM/BBC will use it to show SG were wrong, SNP are Baaad and are now being ‘held to account’.

FibDems are an irrelevance.

Harvie’s Greens along with all of the above should be pilloried if they vote to repeal rather than propose an amendment.

Jockanese Wind Talker

yesindyref2 says at 9:52 pm

Seconded 🙂

Andrew Mclean

Fat candy
Or bender,
No Kelly’s heroes are the IRA, such is his adoration. Best sung when in a boys club? Or is that spelling incorrect?
But this is the rub, his heart land forsakes him, due to his being knee deep in old dirty labour.
And old dirty Labour have no power, their days are numbered. Power seeping away every day, what chance but to go for a final back pocket bounce, uk ok style.

What ex labour will end up on the board of privatisation U.K. $750,000 in 6 months, who’s a greedy bastard?

Cadogan Enright

this law would ultimately eliminate sectarianism and make it as unacceptable as racism or sexism

That is clearly not in the interest of the Union

Hence every means will be used to get rid of it

Lochside

test

Liz g

Andrew McLean @ 9.36

Em…No it isn’t Andrew,it was an essay taking a look at why certain spots were popular and why there was also a social economic demarcation between the different kinds of sports.

It doesn’t defend the findings of aggression or mob mentality as anything,it only noted that it was there,and advanced the theory that it was a release.

But even so you’ve lost me.

I really don’t get how you think there’s any similarities with kiddie porn apologists here.
There is I think an argument that following football and using up emotion ( being passionate about it ) when doing it.
Can and I’m pretty sure is done without causing any harm to anyone.
On the other hand….
As I am sure you will agree kiddie porn is Always harmful no exceptions.

Saor Alba

Common Space has a big dose of “Animal Farm” about it.
It is very disappointing to observe their machinations, but not unexpected.
Point scoring actions at best. What a let down!
The only group who have been constant in their support for Scotland, capable of good government and transparent in their actions is the SNP.

Andrew Mclean

I have just realised what Michelle Mone, was given a baronet for? A woman who started in 2008 that she would abandon her country UKOK in a frigin heartbeat if she was to lose a penny? Why Kelly’s heroes the IRA, and Dr Reid are forgiven.

U.K. Ok would rather the IRA walked into Westminster than the SNP!

Wearing a poppy with pride ukok style.

HandandShrimp

James Kelly’s windmill gets a lot of tilting.

If the public are so emphatically behind him why did he fail in the May elections and had to scrape back in on the list vote?

Common Space is less a reasoned argument and more of an open soap box for anyone to sound off on. There are some good articles but they also publish some absolute mince. Still I guess that is what an open soap box is all about.

Liz g

Ruby @ 9.53
I don’t think it’s really the exercise that the writers were getting at.
I think it was more the need to be part of a Tribe and the buzz from your Tribe being successful.
It pointed out that when football first became popular the spectators were mostly drawn from the working class.
And back in the day that ment hard physical graft.

Effijy

Mr Kelly is well reported as enjoying a wee sectarian song
in the pubs of Rutherglen.

If anyone has taken a video of him in full hate the Prods mode, or collectively document his participation, it would auger well with him if it’s legal bigotry that he is espousing.

Apparently he considers Soldiers to me small in stature?

How can anyone who knows this man think for one moment that he is capable of building a future for our Nation and our Children.

Would Kelly like to teach these songs and attitudes to our school kids to ensure Bigotry has a future?

My God the man is one of Slab’s favourites!

Liz g

Peter Edinburgh @ 9.57
Don’t see how you can call us ignorant.
We all know that it’s the Dangerous Dog Act that’s Actually the worst legislation.

Big Al

There’s a simple solution to this. Sectarian behaviour costs points. The clubs would quickly stamp out the idiots if they were threatened by going down the leagues & having their revenue cut.

Smallaxe

Andrew McLean:

Re.liz g: Please take my assurance my brother,liz has a huge heart and love for our beautiful Scotland,she just finds the male love of football unfathomable and I know that she would
sooner die than excuse the behaviour that you mention.

Peace Always my Brother

Andrew Mclean

Liz G,
I agree but the excuse “it’s just a boys game” it’s men they have instinctive violence, drilled right down to an excuse for abhorrent behaviour, just lads it’s ok, blowing of steam.
A few weeks ago I was walking about at work, a young woman passed me pushing a stroller, behind me a, and I will use the term loosely, man shouted “show us your ass”.?

I can’t say anything else as he was an employee, but taking to him was like talking to a stupid adolescent, and he was a lot older than that. I said you will be dismissed for gross misconduct, he said I will take you to court, I said would you wife like that said to her? Would your wife like the fact you were dismissed for sexual harassment of a young woman pushing a pram? He turned to the guys with him and said did anyone hear me say that, a couple said that they did, a couple got head down and scurried away.

Just boys having a laugh. Did you know the Billy Boys were rapists? No nor did I, makes you proud and kind of humble UK ok style.

Peter. Edinburgh

Liz get, isn’t the Dangerous Dog Act Westminster legislation?

boris

I highlighted the inappropriate behaviour of Prof Adam Tomkins and the Tory Party courting Glasgow Rangers supporters. Tomkins is now a declared Unionist and hero of Glasgow Rangers supporters who rushed to promise the Tory’s their votes in future elections/referendums.

The campaign to reverse legislation proven to be to the benefit of the majority is being advanced by the Unionist parties with one eye on the vote

link to caltonjock.com

ian murray

Just a wee chuckle Do you think that there Celtic supporters who joined the Green party but it wasn’t what they expected?

Norman R

When I saw this “poll” on the Holyrood magazine about 71% of respondente being in favour of repealing the act, my first reaction was skepticism. After all, real polls have consistently shown overwhelming support for the act. Well, this is a Mickey Mouse poll. The question is wrong. The sampling is wrong. Frankly, its only good for a laugh. The act may be flawed, but it has served a purpose and most people feel that the baby should`nt be chucked out with the bathwater, especially when a better option has`nt been proposed by its opponents. I did`nt vote Green in recent elections, but I think I would be very annoyed if they went along with this nonsense. The overwhelming feeling I have about Kelly and his ilk is glaring immaturity. If the SNP can be undermined in some way then, go for it! Never mind the rights and wrongs of the issue, just sock it to the Nats! Its this infantile, venomous mentality that only serves to undermine their own credibility. Thank god grown-ups are in charge.

Smallaxe

Peter Edinburgh:

I noticed the ignorance on this site at @ 9.57

Peace Always ALLWAYS

Clootie

It’s not about football, it’s about long established bigotry.
White against Black, Protestant against Catholic, Muslim against Christian, Straight against Gay, Man versus Woman, Rich versus Poor etc

It comes down to what was the INTENT of what was said or sung.
What was the IMPACT of the words

Had the arguement related to improving the act then I would have listened. However it is merely bigots demanding the right to insult a fellow Scot…and that is the problem for all of us.

The law needs to stay and every politician who beliefs in a fair society should be fighting to keep it.

Liz g

Peter Edinburgh @ 10.38.
No

Liz g

Smallaxe @ 10.43
Me too and again at 10.43…LOL

Andrew Mclean

Ok Peter.
What is the conviction rate?
Looking it up is the first step, then look at the headlines of newspapers.
But Peter said ignorance, Pete no offence, your just a boy walking into a man’s pub.
Next time facts, evidence, truth, that is what we have here.
Just repeating the straplines of you local or national rag just get you laughed at!
You are at step one. Dare you to take step two. Are you man enough?

Juan P

The Act would have been better named ‘The prevention of cuntish behaviour at football grounds by cunts (Scotland) Act 2012’

That’s essentially the behaviour it seeks to criminalise. If you just turn up to a game to watch the match then fuck all happens to you and you don’t get lifted by the polis.

Anyone bleating otherwise is talking out their arse.

Smallaxe

Andrew:

Well,do you feel lucky Punk.

Love it! 🙂

Peace Always

Thomas Potter

I prefer Rugby.

Peter. Edinburgh

The conviction rate, until 2015, ‘in the University of Stirling report and statistics into the effect of the Act, it showed that conviction rates since introduction in 2012 are as low as 22% with only 143 convictions from 664 charges in relation to section 1 of the Act.’

Is that enough for you? Or will you continue the personal attacks?

Smallaxe

Juan P:

Eloquently written Juan,I agree wholeheartedly.

Peace Always

Andrew Mclean

Juan p
Agree with what you say, but Loki here the term Cxxt is considered uncouth. Unless you are spanner, the JKR think it rebellious, just asked an American Squaw, she didn’t.

Andrew Mclean

Small axe
Secret room brother?

Big Jock

James Kelly is genuinely the thickest member of parliament I have ever heard. He looks like a harassed goat teetering on the edge of a cliff.

He is trying to court the same bigots as Jim Murphy and Ruth Davidson. They need the bigots as all the good guys wouldn’t touch Slabour or Tory with a bargepole.

In actual fact noone really cares about how we get rid of bigotry. We just want it gone. Slabour would have you believe that talking to people stops bigotry.

Sectarianism has existed in Scotland since the Irish Catholics came here in the late 19th century and early 20th. Slabour have allowed it to fester as has the BBC and the Record etc. The problem is 90% from one club who hate Catholics,The Pope, Scottish people, Irish people anyone who is yes and anyone who is not a Queen loving mongrel.

Yes other clubs have their problems. But that club with their everybody hates us we don’t care attitude is your problem. It was so peaceful without them for four years and they have come back with the louts and aggressive dangerous songs. They attract trouble because they incite and invite it.

Peter, Edinburgh

Liz g, perhaps you will remind me of the Dangerous Dog Act introduced by the Scottish Parliament.

Peter. Edinburgh

Liz g, can you remind me of the Dangerous Dog Act introduced by the Scottish Parliament.

Andrew Mclean

Big jock

Looking like I disagree with everyone tonight, but I am pretty sure arse holes existed before then, they just didn’t know what to be arseholey about.

Legerwood

Peter. Edinburgh @ 11.17

Control of Dogs Act (Scotland) 2010.

Andrew Mclean

Peter
In 2013 to 2014 86 were found guilty 68 not guilty
In 2014 to 2015 76 were found guilty 14 not guilty
Section one offences

The timescale you cherry picked was on the introduction of a new law.
All new laws need time to bed in,

On your reasoning the crime of unlawful sexual assault should be legal as it has a shocking low conviction rate.

Your move.

Smallaxe

I’m there Brother!

Tam Jardine

When I wrote to Neil Findlay urging him not to support repeal of the act he described it as “bad law” and I don’t think he had any idea why it was from the rest of his slightly aggressive email.

“Bad law” jars with me, perhaps wrongly in the same way Paul Holywood does when he talks about “a good bake”.

Anyway- without going into it too deeply I simply worry that, whatever the conviction rate is or the overlap with other legislation, the result of a repeal will be that it will energise supporters behaving badly. It will say that antisocial behaviour is fine in the context of a football match.

That’s not the Scotland I want my kids grow up in.

As for Kelly’s poll one issue occurs to me. We are assaulted with any supposed waste of money by the Scottish Government. I presume this poll was paid for indirectly out of the Scottish Government’s coffers- slab gets money for being an opposition party as well as expenses.

How did they pay for this preposterous and substandard poll and how much did it cost us? Or are we to believe this was paid personally by James Kelly or funded by the labour party activists?

How can the money be justified when you examine the ridiculous and unsound sample?

If we can get polling companies to judge that the poll is so selective as to be worthless is there a case to be made that the parliament should not deem it eligible as an expense? Why should we pay for it?

Big Jock

I know that Andrew. But the football bigotry is a modern phenomenon which has historical links to Irish immigrants to Scotland.

There was bigotry and ethnic cleansing during the reformation. That was Scot against Scot. Modern bigotry is a fancy name for not liking the Irish or their religion.Orange walks celebrate beating the Irish and Rangers are a big part of that mob.

Some Celtic fans sing IRA songs. Wrong, yes, inappropriate, yes. But we are talking about two different spectrums. One celebrates freedom from oppression the other celebrates oppression. Hence Rangers cause the majority of the problems I.e George Square. They want to fight anyone who threatens their right to hate openly. They are a festering sore on our society.

yesindyref2

Scrobble

That’s all I can say.

Andrew Mclean

Peter from Edinburgh
Oh you naughty little boy, I looked at the IP address from your last post.
link to scottishsocialistparty.org

What have I said about the far left, see you undercover chaps you just are so obvious UKOK style.

Ps now listen in ukok world the aircraft carrier that actually has fighter jets on board needs a very small boat traveling behind it, because its so old it needs a repair ship. A repair ship tiny in comparison? What magical tool is this beau ship containing. And what is this magical tool not doing on the ship itself.
A conundrum uk ok style

Tam Jardine

Andrew McLean

I think Peter may have just swept all the pieces off the board and gone home in the huff. If we’re all ignorant what does that make him if he’s just had his arse handed to him by yourself, Liz and Legerwood?

Peter. Edinburgh

Andrew McLean, what do you mean my move? You asked for stats, I provided them. You then make an excuse about needing time to bed in. I made my move, you ignore it. As for your mention of sexuality abuse. Pathetic.

This is a terrible Act, and has nothing to do with sectarianism. Otherwise, why only legislate on sectarian behaviour at football? Does sectarian and offensive behaviour no happen elsewhere?

Ori

@Andrew Mclean

I know exactly what I’m talking about. Read what I sad for fucks sake.

Continue down this route and all that happens is the SNP get defeated. Alternatively do a deal where the essentials of the law get merged in to others and it’s responsible government.

The whole point of the OBFA is to make it easier for the life to charge people for behaviour which is designed to cause offence at a football match because such offence is at a minimum intimidating and if not designed to provoke a violent response.

The police also have laws to make it easier to regulate driving so as to prevent accidents, injury and death. Speeding, MOTs, insurance, drink levels, mobile phones, licences are all based on specific instances of dangerous driving.

As I said, some Celtic fans are no saints but we’re getting away with singing songs to wind up rival fans because there was no specific law against them doing that. There shouldn’t have to be.

Andrew Mclean

Big Jock
Don’t be fuckng stupid, the modern IRA never fought for the oppressed, they fought for control, they controlled and still do, the drug cartels, protection rackets and the emerging sex trade.
As do the loyalist uk ok style.

Want a lollipop uk ok.

,

Thepnr

Whether OBFA is a “good” law or a “bad” law isn’t the point in all this.

It’s just another attempt to get one over the SNP.

That much is just so obvious. Common Space being truly ridiculous in it’s assertion that over 70% of Scots want to repeal the law based on a consultation organised by James Kelly.

Deary me, and they started out with so much promise too.

Tam Jardine

Peter. Edinburgh

Ok- I withdraw my last remark as you clearly are still here! Can I ask you a quick question- do you think offensive behaviour at football matches will increase or decrease if the act is repealed?

Andrew Mclean

Peter old chap
You didn’t give stats whatsoever they are, you cut and pasted.
I gave empirical evidence. You told me the earth was flat. Please don’t be that guy, use your brain, think man think!

Peter. Edinburgh

Andrew McLean, so what part of the University of Stirling report are you disputing? Far left, jeez, utter paranoid ramblings.

Oh, and here I am Tam. My are set handed to me? How exactly? Certainly not by Andrew. As for Liz g, I asked if the Dangerous Dog Act was Westminster, which it was. There was Scottish Government legislation, as pointed out by Leeswood, the Control of Dogs Act (Scotland) 2010. Now, this is dangerous dog legislation, but not the Dangerous Dog Act. Not so much as having my arsenal handed to me, but someone answering a question I asked.

But thanks for your input anyway. And I’ll let you know when I’m heading home, not quite yet though.

Smallaxe

Andrew McLean

Still in the room!

Peter. Edinburgh

Apologies for the spelling above. I am posting from my phone and predictive text is kicking in!!

Peter. Edinburgh

Tam, can you define offensive behaviour please.

Tam Jardine

Peter. Edinburgh

Can I anticipate your answer is that it will have no effect whatsoever and request that you come back here on the 1st of January to tell us all how the disgusting chaos that will surround the OF game would have been as bad or worse had this legislation not been repealed?

We’re not talking about singing songs Peter- we are talking about behaviour that creates an environment where people get stabbed, folk get glassed and women are beaten by husbands and partners.

Liz g

Andrew McLean 10.37

Andrew while I see what you are getting at I think.

Can I first say I was talking about something I had read not saying that it was my thoughts.

second we are getting a bit deep here and a good bit off topic so I don’t want to derail the thread more than this post….ok

Lastly I will probably be in so much trouble for saying what I am about to anyway you won’t want to keep the conversation going.

While we all want the moral zeitgeist to go in a certain direction,and as a society we are obliged to do our upmost to ensure that it does.
We cannot legislate our way there.
It’s worth pointing out that the Americans haven’t because they are not constitutionally allowed to,made any law to ban the N. word yet no body “well nobody with a brain” uses it any more.
This happened through social change,and is probably how we will ultimately beat but not eradicate sectarianism.

But when you were talking about the young man who spoke to the the young mum so inappropriately you said yourself he wasn’t that bright.

(So hope I am saying this right )

Fifty or so years of promoting it’s not acceptable to think of women in that way is up against thousands of years of instinct.
While that guy was stupid enough to blurt out what went through his head and yes there is no excuse for him doing it.
He lives within a civilised society and benifits from it so he must abide by the rules.
I would argue that while most men when they are asked do you notice and think of woman in that way…if they’re smart…they will say no …… but they would be lying.

Before you go thinkin again that’s a pedo defence, I am talking about a survival of the species type thing as in how consenting adults respond to their basic nature not an abomination of nature.

So what I am trying to say is, if the Tribel element is indeed there in and around these sports,then we need to acknowledge what it is we are up against to manage it because it may very well be a part of human nature.
The sectarianism is definitely man made that we do know,so that’s why I am a big fan of not having any religion in schools at all.

Also we have, as a society seemed to focus on football supporters as the only ones that behave this way when it’s probably that they are the only ones doing it every week with cameras on them.
Mibbi we need to cast the net wider to tackle or manage it.

Meg merrilees

Can’t imagine Hogmanay if this Act is scrapped in the immediate future!

Andrew Mclean

Peter Fay Edinburgh
This report
link to stir.ac.uk
Really you plonker!

Tam Jardine

Peter

Offensive: a particular term or definition is likely to be perceived as insulting by a listener or reader—an affront to that particular individual or to an entire group of like individuals—whether or not an offense was intended.

Behaviour: the way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially towards others.

I guess it is a combination of the two terms. Do you think that will increase or decrease as a result of the OBFA being repealed?

Andrew Mclean

Liz g
Human nature? Or society’s nurture?

Rock

Robert Peffers,

You bang on about Scots being “sovereign”.

What is the status of the large number of English settlers living in Scotland?

Are they equally “sovereign” as Scots?

If they aren’t, why should they be allowed to vote in a Scottish independence referendum?

carjamtic

Peter

For a deaf,dumb and blind kid,you sure post a mean kinball.

Weak,frightened,compromised ?.. in the past, in Scotland,that usually meant fucking off somewhere else….running away from everything,some far distant land,finding somewhere to hide from the truth.

We are all involved in this (football fans or not) compromising is for losers.

#jointhedots

Thepnr

Will you stop yer tickling, Rock!
Oh, stop yer tickling, Rock!
Dinna mak’ me laugh so hearty,
Or you’ll mak me choke.
Oh, I wish you’d stop yer nonsense,
Just look at all the folk.
Will yer stop yer tic-kle-ing, tic-kle-ic-kle-ing.
Stop yer tickling Rock!

Rock

“Although it may hold off until Wednesday, when a symbolic vote will take place in the Holyrood chamber that the SNP may well lose.”

It would be very interesting to see the Greens vote against the SNP government on this issue.

Peter. Edinburgh

Firstly, this law is not only about Celtic and Rangers, why anyone thinks it is astounds me.

Secondly, there is, ans was prior to the introduction of this Act, legislation that dealt with sectarian behaviour and violent behaviour at football.

Thirdly, Tam, your definition of offensive. I can therefore consider the use of the word ‘plonker’ to describe me as being offensive as I perceive it to be insulting to me. I consider myself a reasonable person and therefore could ask for the person that used that offensive language at me to be charged under OBFA. But only if there was a football game being played in Scotland tonight. Luckily for that individual no senior Scottish game was played tonight, therefore he will not be charged under this Act. I will therefore I will ignore his name calling.

So, giving your, as wide as the Clyde, definition of offensive behaviour, there is no way that question can be answered.

Peter. Edinburgh

And for the record, I’m off to bed, but happy to pick all this up again in the morning.

Orri

@Andrew Mclean

I know exactly what I’m talking about. Read what I said for fucks sake.

Continue down this route and all that happens is the SNP get defeated. Alternatively do a deal where the essentials of the law get merged in to others and it’s responsible government.

The whole point of the OBFA is to make it easier for the police to charge people for behaviour which is designed to cause offence at a football match because such offence is at a minimum intimidating and if not designed to provoke a violent response.

The police also have laws to make it easier to regulate driving so as to prevent accidents, injury and death. Speeding, MOTs, insurance, drink levels, mobile phones, licences are all based on specific instances of dangerous driving.

As I said, some Celtic fans are no saints but we’re getting away with singing songs to wind up rival fans because there was no specific law against them doing that. There shouldn’t have to be. Expanding disturbance of the peace laws might be a way forward that the SNP and Greens can agree on.

Liz g

Peter Edinburgh @ 11.59
Sigh…
You haven’t addressed your original point of us not knowing what the stupidest law was.
The one most fans of dog’s hate.
The one they have campaigned against since it’s been brought in.
The one you get prosecuted in Scottish Court’s for.
You know the court
The Court’s that operate the Scottish Justice System.
The system that’s no a reserved matter.
The system that Holyroods responsible fur..that wan!!

Tam Jardine

Good night Peter, Good night Elizabeth. Good night Daddy *Good night, Son* Good night Mary Ellen. Good night Andrew. *Good night Tam* …

Andrew Mclean

Sorry Peter,
This isn’t Twitter or a random forum, answer the retorted post, didn’t walk on by like I don’t exist.
Your stats were shit, your evidence was old and you misquoted from it.
Answer my point!
You lied either from stupidity or malice.
It’s not an insult but facts please, is that to much in ukok style?

Peter. Edinburgh

Liz, sigh indeed.

You mentioned the Dangerous Dog Act. I asked you if that wasn’t Westminster legislation. You said no. I asked you to remind me of the Scottish Parliament Dangerous Dog Act, another poster pointed out the Control of Dogs Act. Which isn’t called the Dangerous Dog Act, but I’m not going to dispute what it was called. I am more than happy to accept a dangerous dog piece of legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament.

I am more than happy that, In your opinion, this dangerous dog legislation is the stupidest law, although I didn’t use the word stupidest in my original post. It’s your opinion and you are entitled to it. My opinion is different.

So, yes, very much a sigh, and also a yawn as I am now, off to bed.

Cadogan Enright

I note commonspace involved in making stuff up in the Revs post above. Between this and their gross misrepresentation of the Billboard campaign, repeated again by Angela Hegarty In Sunday’s Herald it’s pretty obvious that they have a mission to undermine the broad YES Movement . Sort of all the really bad bits in Bella, with none of the redeeming features, only worse.

Anything anyone does for YES is BAAD and only they know best

If you were to judge the genuine YES bono fides of any organisation on one issue, this law would be it

Only Yoons Benefit from the status quo ante

Cadogan Enright

Looks like Ponsonby is thinking what I was saying in my post that just disappeared at 1.00 link to indyref2.scot

Liz g

Peter Edinburgh @ 12.58.
Well whit kin ah say Peter.
Am happy you’re happy.

Liz g

Tam Jardine @12.43
Goodnight Thomas

Andrew Mclean

Peter once of Edinburgh now asleep

Your statement was false, your quoted statements were disproved.

The offensive behaviour act is one of the most effective.

Your comments were immature.

No offence but as a post?

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

yesindyref2

As a little point of information, or lack of it, I would presume that the Repeal of this Act would in itself be a Bill, be subject to a vote, perhaps even Committee, and then even when voted on, would require Royal Assent.

Seems to me to be unlikely that would happen before the Hogmanay game, more like next year.

Jack Collatin

Kelly and Tomkins are two fleas off the same dog.
The old divide and conquer doesn’t work any more.
Tony Blair’s New Labour Gang are all very wealthy men and women off the back of keeping the masses poor and dependent on state intervention just to take home a pay that barely keeps the wolf from the door.
Labour in Scotland actively collaborated with their Westminster Colleagues to turn Scotland into an industrial wasteland, a backwater, where the only escape route was immigration or the army.
Gordon Brown,John Reid, Douglas Alexander, Margaret Curran, Tom Harris, Jim Murphy, Lord Foulkes, Lord Darling, Lord MacConnell, Baroness Liddell, and the ‘Fucking Useless’ Forty Failures who were at last kicked out on their ear last May, milked the cash cow for everything they could get, their most diligent act as MP’s and Cabinet Members being to flip houses and claim everything they could on expenses.
The Tories have always strived, and continue to attempt to destroy Civic Scotland.They believ in an elite at the top, a buffer zone of middle class ‘aspiring’ professionals, and the resat propping up privilege and wealth.
Blair was a neo Conservative and continued where Maggie and John Major left off: privatise, PFI, illegal wars, light touch on the Bankers,WFTC fre money to their filthy rich pals to subsidise low pay.
Ruth Davidson, Jackson Carlaw, Adam Tomkins, Murdo Fraser, and the Listory Boys are fervent agents of May’s Right Wing Junta.
They will continue to punish the poor for the crimes of the Money Men, reward their mates in the City, and sell off as much publicly owned assets and institutions as they can before we get a chance to stop them destroying society all together.
Brexit has brought this to a head.
Wake up, Celtic and Rangers supporters.
They are using you and your votes to subjugate you.
When Tomkins and Murphy are in the hospitality suites and lolling on the dear seats at Ibrox and Parkhead, you’ll still wake up on a Monday morning and wonder whether you’ll have a job by Christmas.
They are cynical bitter manipulators who basically don’t give a damn, as long as they continue to rake in the money.
Patrick Harvie must realise that these Unionist elitists are the real enemies of the people.
Why therefore would he and his party go into a lobby with them? Just because they can?
I have nothing but contempt for the remnants of Unionist carpetbaggers still rattling about Up Here.
They are anti Scottish. They would sacrifice our country to the greater good of the Motherland.
The Act is hardly perfect, but I detect a change in behaviour of both sets of Glasgow supporters over the piece.
We’re not there yet. But I ask, who are your real enemies, Celtic and Rangers supporters?
The Oligarchy which is determined to drag us out of Europe, and reduce the citizens of this country to penury and subservience, or your next door neighbour, struggling to make ends meet and make sense of this madness, who happens to support another team?
Green Party, think again, for pity’s sake.

Smallaxe

Jack Collatin:

And…Relax

I would not like to get into your bad book Jack.

That post was a Stoater!

Peace,Love and Pick their Bones

Liz g

Andrew McLean @ 1.25
Well said.

Didn’t know if you were still up
In answer to your question.
While sectarianism is most definitely a society construct.
I do think that there is an argument for the Tribel element in and around football to be a part of our basic nature.
In much the same way as a heterosexual man responds to a woman.
I am not trying to denigrate men because we all know there’s a big difference between thought and action.
Which is the whole point.
If we can accept that the most powerful part of human nature can be subject to self control.
Then it’s not much of a leap to so can every other response.
Therefore this Tribel element if that’s what is is,can be more positivity managed.
But we have to work out first if that’s what’s going on.
Much the same way as we have found that society functions better when women are not expected to put up with what you termed as the boy will be boy’s attude.
Find an acceptable way to channel the Tribel stuff and football might loose that image.
It would follow that the sectarianism will not get manipulated in to it.
Because I think sectarianism has it’s root’s in social engineering

Thepnr

I absolutely respect the right of the Green party to hold different views than the SG. On this issue though I don’t have a clue why they would.

There is no political capital for them in opposing OBFA, in fact the opposite is true. This isn’t a Green issue, Patrick Harvie out of touch on this I believe.

Supporting the Unionists to repeal this law will cost the Greens votes. In saying that, I don’t believe the Greens will support a repeal if it ever comes to a vote, merely abstain.

yesindyref2

@Thepnr
The Greens said they wanted it to be reformed, it will be interesting to see if they stick to that. The SNP have said they’ll consider suggestions for reform. Let’s see if they stick to that!

Onyways, nice one-sided article from Leask. I, errrr, collected some bits of posts from that express article in my reply. No idea if that posting will stay or be deleted, because of the content of some of the material.

link to archive.is

(sorry cmd)

Dr Jim

Maybe I’m misunderstanding some of these so called Independence web sites when they say they support Independence because it seems like what they’re really supporting is the protesting bit and not the actual winning part

Perhaps they feel if we actually win there’s likely to be a drop in readership and maybe for these so called web sites that’s an unpalatable prospect hence the support and at times positive bullying of folk to vote Green at the last election for, you know, a more balanced Holyrood, they claimed

That has gone extremely well for the rest of us who voted for the main vehicle to get us Independence and are now reliant on a questionable bunch of Prima Donnas showing off their wee bit power at every opportunity and we wait with baited breath to see if they’re going to do that very thing again with the OBFA which all of us know perfectly well has not a thing to do with whether the Act is a good bad or indifferent one

Given that in politics memory is usually short except nowadays because of our friend the Interweb we can and do remember everything and everyone who lets down the aspirations of the rest of us and then vote accordingly when the time comes round to do that

All three Tory parties in Holyrood will probably vote against the SNP effort of driving out the putrid fetid obscenity that passes for entertainment amongst a section of people who use football as their place to hide while they carry out their baser instincts towards others in the hope of retaining their anonymity amongst the mob

So, it’ll be over to the Greens to demonstrate to the population of Scotland their reasons for not supporting the SNP effort to attempt to curb uncivilised behaviour amongst some of our population whether at a football match or otherwise
And here’s the thing the Greens reasons will need to be better than the “It’s just not good enough” argument which is what we’ve come to expect from the three Tory parties in there desire to hide the truth that it’s just all about power and nothing more for them

The police like it, the judiciary like it and what’s more important, We, the people of Scotland like it, that’s why we didn’t vote for the three Tory parties or the Feckin Greens

schrodingers cat

article on common space getting absolutely slaughtered btl. snigger

Smallaxe

Dr Jim:

I think that you have correctly marked the card of some so called “Independence” websites,most of them will disintegrate
after Independence is won.This site I would hope,will emerge as our daily newspaper giving us what it always has done,Truth.

Peace Always

Al Dossary

Why do they not just write the headline in its truest form – “The vast majority of old firm season ticket holders want this act repealed”.

With the exception of a very small minority at the other clubs, there is widespread support for this act amongst supporters at other clubs in Scotland.

The vast majority of supporters of other clubs give not a shit about Rangers or Celtic, and there is broad support for the act.

My home town of Wishaw was a no-go zone on a Saturday night back if Celtic won when they played with a 3pm Saturday kick off. Not so bad when Rangers won, but still dangerous all the same. If you go back to the year that Celtic broke the 10 in a row streak of Rangers, there was not a police cell in Lanarkshire that was empty that night. The word on Facebook after the last drubbing Rangers took was for “fellow Tims to be careful out there – the zombies are about and itching for a fight”.

Kelly and his ilk have milked the support of their catholic brethren for years. BLIS was and is on the whole a cabal of xth generation Irish immigrants – just look at GCC or the nepotism of John Reid (Celtic board member), Helen Liddell and Frank B Roy (flautist extrordinaire in the Crossmaglen patriots republican flute band). Mr Roy by all accounts was a bigot of the most extreme type in his Ravenscraig days prior to his finding of the parliamentary gravy train.

And don’t get me started on the religious leanings of North Lanarkshire Council’s ruling party (as pointed out to me by my best friend of 40 years during one of our many Buckfast fuelled, putting the world to rights, late teen conversations all those years ago). I believe the figure then was 20 of the 24 councillors were of the Celtic persuasion (as is he still I might add). But hey – they were not SNP, therefore in the eyes of the orange order it was ok to vote for them lol.

I still treasure to this day the look of astonishment and dismay on the face of a particularly staunch Belfast Unionist when I told him that the (then) new Irish Secretary John Reid was a Celtic season ticket holder!

They were unfortunately supported by the orange order whos party line was that a “vote for the SNP is a Catholic vote”. Ironically in giving the vote to BLIS they were supporting the very people they were told not to vote for!

Fortunately many, many of BLIS have seen through the bullshit and oppression of BLIS but unfortunately the orange order vote has moved off to the Ruth Davidson party rather than embrace their future free of the Westminster shackles.

And why does this “disease” of bigotry still exist in Scotland ? Quite simply that no political party has had both the will and the courage to dismantle the state sponsored segregation of children at the age of 5 years old, followed by their further radicalisation at the age of 11 when they go to high school. Yes there is an element of peer pressure to support Celtic/Rangers from an early age, but the kids that exert that pressure are those whose parents impress upon them birth that the family are all Celtic / Rangers.

I would hope that the SNP have the will to address this state sponsored, bigotrous divide, but given that it would alienate a huge %age of those who have switched allegiance from BLIS to them, I fear they have not the courage as it would destroy their chances of retaining many central belt and Fife seats.

I sincerely hope the Greens go for a rework of the bill rather than repeal – it is not perfect, but it is better than nothing.

Michael McCabe

Good Name for a new paper. The Daily Truth.

Smallaxe

Michael McCabe:

Hi Michael,I was looking for you on O/T

Peace Always

mealer

I don’t think it will do the SNP any harm to be defeated on this.

Malky

While I accept that Common Space is a discussion forum (and this, like plenty of other articles on the site, has certainly sparked a discussion), they will not last long if they continue to knock their chosen ‘demographic’. I rarely feel able to post a positive comment on articles I read there, simply because they increasingly attempt to undermine the Scottish Government in general and the SNP in particular with rarely any substance or rationale.

Jack Collatin

Smallaxe: Indyref2
Next week Osborne’s benefits Cap ,£22,000 in London, £20,000 in the rest of this lump of rock, takes effect, and it is forecast that an additional 300,000 children will be pushed into poverty, some families losing between £58 to £100 per week.
No transitional period, no mitigation. ‘Hard working families’ in receipt of WFTC included. Boom, that’s it.
Ruth Davidson touts her ass around the BBC looking for guest spots on the Great British BBC Trash, and Kezia Dugdale is off on another jolly to the US of A.
I read Leask’s pusillanimous opinion piece, Indyref. Money for old jam from one of the last of the Dead Tree Scrollers.
I must have missed his invite to tea and scones, since by dint of the fact that I am writing this, and that you, and presumably Leask, are reading my rant, I am classed as one of those nasty cybernats whom yet another anonymous SNP spokesperson would rather I didn’t.
Well, Mr Leask, if I am classed as a vile cybernat, I accept your invitation to tea. In fact, why don’t we film it, and broadcast it on youtube.
I promise not to say ‘fuck’ or call you a “Ed: Tractor.”
Of course I lack your literary skills, you being a professional journalist and all that, and you have honed your presentational and debating skills through countless guest spots on BBC Scotland News Where We Are, but I am willing to take the risk. Doubtless you will run rings ’round me; £14.8 billion Black Hole, Spain will veto our EU bid, but we’ll be forced to use the euro, Russia will attack, £1200 a year more per head spent by HM Government in Scotland than the rest of the UK, the oil has run out.
I am trembling in my boots with dread at the prospect of being given a right doing by a professional journo and exposed as a nasty wee cybernat bully which the faceless wing of the SNP wishes would just stop all this moaning about the MSM and right wing politicians.. Or maybe not.
Children are starving and Leask offers cake.

yesindyref2

@Jack Collatin
In one paragraph Leask mentions the other side: “… The result? Cybernats get a much higher profile for their disastrous online interactions than their similarly angry Unionist foes.”

He also refers to what I presume is that Express article: “one of the more pro-British tabloids ran its first expose on keyboard warriors. Some looked quite vulnerable. ”

“expose” Which wasn’t really up to much, and shown to be fraudulent by a Wings article. But did the fool take the trouble to look below the line, and make a balanced article? No.

David Leask, if you happen to read this, you are lazy. Or dishonest. Which?

Peter Piper

Jack Collatin

smallaxe, I hope that you are keeping well. I have a dental appointment this morning; hence my Bah Humbug mood.
I ask, when I turn 70 next year, and since I live in the Desolation Row of the West of Scotland, will HR Maj be sending me a telegram?
I also have most of my own teeth, do not eat fried Mars Bars (raucous laughter from the HIGNFY, BBC QT, Mock the Week, Would I Lie to You Home Counties audiences), and eat my greens.
The Daily Truth has a ring to it. Peace.

David MacGille-Mhuire

Anyone else having trouble accessing this post?

FORBIDDEN ACCESS TO THIS SITE VIA THIS SERVER (or words to this effect) displaying.

Tech hitch?

Martin

I’m a Celtic season ticket holder for 20 years. I support the OBFA, though it could do with tidying up. I can’t be arsed with folk singing about stuff that happened years ago in another country. I can’t be arsed with a culture that leads to young boys getting bottled and managers getting jumped.

It’s an imperfect act, but reform it rather than repeal. All that does is send out the message to the fudricks that they can do what they want.

Macart

If that law is repealed, it will have nothing to do with any moral stance and everything to do with harming the Scottish government at a cost to Scottish society.

That’s all Mr Kelly and his unionist party support cares about, damaging the SNP.

Should it be repealed rather than amended to become more effective, make no mistake the drops we saw in football/sectarian related offences, A&E numbers, home abuse cases will be reversed.

I wonder if Kelly considers that a price worth paying? I wonder if he thinks people will forget who would have been responsible? I wonder if he remembers just why the law came about in the first place?

Just so the politicians are aware. Folk know why you’re doing this and no I don’t think they’ll forget by the time the next ballot comes around.

One_Scot

‘I don’t think it will do the SNP any harm to be defeated on this.’

Good point. It will show a wider audience of normal decent people the Yoons for what they are.

Nana

link to blogs.lse.ac.uk

link to thecanary.co

Because of Brexit, British Jews whose families once fled the Nazis are applying for German passports
link to archive.is

Keith Vaz’s Election To Justice Committee Labelled An ‘Utter Disgrace’
link to archive.is

Smallaxe

Jack Collatin:

Best of luck at the dentist Jack,just grab him by the testicles and say,”now we’re not going to hurt each other are we!”

I have an Oncologist appt. this afternoon,the vampires will feed well tonight. 🙂

Robert McDonald

Right on cue the BBC lines up MrK to tell us how the whole population of Scotland is with him and his “Biggest response in the history of the parliament”.

Right, “Sit down Mr Kelly!”

Smallaxe

Nana:

Good morning,thank you for the links as usual,kettle’s on

Peace Always x2 pass one up to Jack Collatin please,I was remiss with my post to him. 🙂

Brian Powell

Would the Greens really vote against the Act on the basis of Kelly gibberish survey with no real alternative ready to put in place?

It must be obvious that the Tories, A Tomkins etc, would be trumpeting their success, and no rational explanation would get through to the tribes in the sectarian supporting football supporters, they would see it as a green light.

Fred

Peter from Edinburgh deserves a hearing, this act was supposed to be an experiment, has it worked? & has the message been got across that offensive behaviour is offensive! As a long-lapsed blue-nose myself I deplore the dismal Ibrox stuff about a 17th century battle where King Billy was backed by the Pope versus James. Celtic fans by comparison are witty, entertaining & politically spot-on! The Palestine flag business has been mega.

It’s the fans job to wind up the opposition, is singing “You all live on the shite side of Fife! da-ra, da-ra da-ra da-ra!” offensive? & if not why not. I have a nephew who was caught sashing it up in Edinburgh & fined. He didn’t think this could possibly be offensive as it was only at Hearts fans but glad to say he’s now away to the Yoonie noo & appears quite sensible.

Mebbes time to take stock & kick this act into the long grass, defeat appears to be on the cards anyhow & “Breach” is possibly quite sufficient anyhow & always was. It’s the SNP’s job to get Scotland its independence, being “up to it’s knees in this shite runs counter to that end.

Three kings at the Boyne anyhow & not a lot of people know that by the way!

The Isolator

@Al Dossary,

Post of the year for me in relation to this little hornets nest.The SNP has always faced hostility from both sides of the bigot divide ,in trying to tackle head on this scourge of 21st Century Scotland.They have relied too heavily on a across all society approach for consensus with this legislation and ended up with a complete dogs dinner.

Re-visit,tweak and revise but repeal??Never.

Cut off the serpents head and do away with state sponsored segregation and we could be on our way to something akin to tolerance.Leave it in place and well it’s all just tinkering around the edges.

Bizarrely here in the east and in contrast to further west ,voting SNP was seen mainly as a
“working class Protestants” thing in 70’s Scotland.

William Wolfe when leader of the SNP was often (wrongly imo)regarded as “anti Catholic” by many voters but even he realised that the key to breaking into the Labour heartlands was to attract the catholic vote.(Hence reluctance to follow through party policy on Non Secular State education)Election after election during the 70’s and 80’s invariably began with the SOS for Scotland being photographed with and prominently publicised with the Cardinal of the day.It had been a Labour ploy for decades.Indeed Galloway played the religious card during the Referendum Campaign time and again aided by the “Scottish ” Labour Party.

Brian Powell

Surely if there is discussion about Kelly’s survey on TV or the radio they will have Prof Curtice to point out the survey questions are drivel and it isn’t a meaningful poll.

Or probably not.

Peter. Edinburgh

And after a good night’s sleep I return to this thread.

I mentioned ignorance in my original post.

The ignorance of people who think this Act is about sectarianism. When, as I pointed out, neither the words sectarian nor sectarianism appear anywhere within the Act.

The ignorance of people who think this Act is about Celtic and Rangers. Jeez, where to even begin with that.

The ignorance of someone who thinks that unless you support this Act, your Yes vote isn’t genuine! What the hell does that even mean?

The ignorance of people who do not understand what this Act is even about. That this Act does not define ‘offensive’ and only requires a police officer to consider that someone, somewhere, who may or may not exist, is offended, however that police officer has defined offensive!

The ignorance of people who wish to use legislation to end offensive behaviour, only at a football game!

The ignorance of people who wish to use legislation to end offensive behaviour, but are happy to be offensive themselves, towards people who do not agree with them.

The ignorance of people who do not understand that our MSPs may wish to get rid of bad legislation.

I have said my piece on this Act.

The Isolator

Oops apologies should have read secular not non secular drat

Naina Tal

The ignorance of people who can’t see that calling people ignorant is highly unlikely to persuade them to their point of view.

Smallaxe

Peter.Edinburgh:says

The ignorance on this site is shocking.

Perhaps Peter if you had said,the ignorance on this matter is
shocking,then you may have got a different reaction,but to condemn the site out of hand was maybe a bit rash.Dont you think?

Peace Always

Ruby

Liz g says:

Therefore this Tribel element if that’s what is is,can be more positivity managed.

‘But we have to work out first if that’s what’s going on.

Ruby replies

Could it be that what’s going on is that people are going to football matches as a means of relieving stress & anger and also a way of achieving a sense of identity.

I’m sticking with my idea that the solution to all this bad behaviour is more aerobic exercise.
I’m not sure if a job that involves hard phsyical graft could be counted as aerobic exercise.

If they want to be part of a tribe then why not just be part of a team ie play football instead of watching football. Or perhaps Rugby would be better!

Since singing/chanting is a good way of relieving all that bottle up stess & anger then perhaps the solution would be if there were more male voice choirs. No idea how the Welsh male voice choirs came about but that might be worth researching.
The only part of football I enjoy watching is the fans singing ‘Sunshine on Leith’ and I bet they enjoy singing it.

Could be worth looking at what happens in Wales vis a vis choirs,rugby playing, sectarianism & stress relief. (and perhaps why Welsh is so widely spoken)

The issue of people wanting to be part of a band and learn to play a musical instrument could be solved by having more bands ones that are not sectarian.

My solution more sport, more choirs, more bands & more socially acceptable ways of relieving stress.

Ken500

The ignorance of politicians who try to use the Act as political fodder,

It was brought in by two (lapsed) Catholic MSP’s. McAskill and Cunningham. After McCoist whispered in Lennon ear and they nearly went for each other. A bad Law, There should be no sectarian Laws in Scotland as Scotland is a secular country. The Churches have privileges above the Law, The equal opportunity Employment Laws etc.

It’s a bad Law but it works. Any politician should think carefully before they go against the will of the majority of voters wishes. They are sick of sectarianism and fed up with the part sport, especially football plays in it. It exist mainly in the Central belt encouraged by Unionist politicians. They did nothing about it for far too long. Banning Orange Marches etc. A National scandal.

The Churches are losing members faster than a sieve loses water. The terraces are empty. The clubs are in debt. Sectarianism will die out. Change the Law at your peril. The Police were not carrying out their duties because of political influence? Now they are.

Robert Louis

If the OBFA isn’t quite right (and I emphasise ‘IF’) then the correct approach is to modify it, following proper consultation. Simply deleting the law, is just designed to ‘bash the snp’. James Kelly of Labour is NOT motivated by some kind of overwhelming largesse for football fans who like to sing about being up to their knees in catholics blood, no, this is all about bashing the SNP.

Why the Greens appear to support such a move, is truly beyond me, on every level. I think they do themselves no favours with their approach to this. Whatever they might think, repeal of this law, will be seen by the bigotted sectarian thugs as a big, huge, freaking giant, neon, bright green light to indluge in hate speech and hate crime, and bogotry, that some people seem to have forgotten used to be rampant.

No good will come from the repeal of OBFA, for Scotland, or for the green party.

I’m not angry at the Greens for this, I simply cannot understand how such a move gels with their overriding ethos.

Robert Peffers

@frogesque says: 31 October, 2016 at 7:43 pm:

” … end school segregration and educate our kids to respect and learn from others of different faiths and customs.”

There is actually no school segregation, frogesque, and there never was after the RC schools were legally brought under the state school system.

Legally neither the Protestant, (so called, non-denominational), schools nor the Roman Catholic, or indeed other religious ran, schools can legally refuse to take any child on the grounds of their religion. Any child can attend any state school if they live in that schools catchment area and providing there are places vacant.

Historically the state got all the RC schools for free when the came under the state education system. They got the RC paid for schools, the equipment and the teachers who were trained in RC paid for teacher training colleges.

Not a penny was paid in compensation for those schools, teachers or equipment and the law was clear that a child could not be refused a place in any state school on the grounds of their religion.

Quite simply the idea of school segregation exists only in the minds of religious bigots. People send their children to RC schools or Non-denominational schools by free choice and if the RC school happens to be the better school it often has not only the catchment area’s non-Christian children but a good many Protestant children too. BTW: No child can be legally forced to take RE classes if their parents do not wish them to do so.

Sinky

James Kelly on Call Kaye shortly. I’ll stick to mogadon.

Robert Louis

Oh, and I might add, that if OBFA is removed, with a Government defeat, it will not harm the SNP in any way. Most Scots (a large majority) time and again have been shown to support OBFA, so their defeat will only strengthen the SNP, further allowing them to take the moral high ground.

The bigots who want this law repealed may be very vocal, but honestly, and the SNP know this, they number very few in terms of the electorate.

Labour falling into a trap all of their own making yet again, and apparently taking the greens along as willing partners. Clearly they have not thought the consequences through.

It all seem like such a good idea James Kelly, doesn’t it? Bash the SNP? Ho ho, what fun. The reality is, were it not such an important matter for Scots, my guess is many in the SNP would actually be laughing their socks off.

Andrew Gordon

As ever the BBC in Scotland are salavating over this total bollocks survey by Kelly and the spectacularly lazy journos at the Record
“Call I’ve got my own agenda Kay ” will be highlighting the OBFA on her show this morning, I know most visitors to WOS are not great listeners of this guff but might I suggest if you have nothing else to do with your time from 9-10 am this morning we cram the BBC switchboard expressing many of the opinions put forward on this site.
It is utterly deplorable and lazy reporting with absolutely no evidence of any of the opposition parties coming up with any alternative or amendments.

Stu Mac

@Peter. Edinburgh says:
31 October, 2016 at 11:03 pm
The conviction rate,
===========

It was you that started the personal attacks – on everyone on this site, so a bit hypocritical of you to take that attitude. Arrogant person methinks. You think it’s OK to call us fools but whine when you get slapped down for it.

As to your figures, what do they prove? Could it be the police/fiscal aren’t prosecuting with enough vigour or not getting their cases set up right? Or could it be – as quite a few folk on this site have suggested – that the act does need amending but not replacing? There’s not necessarily an easy black/white interpretation.

One thing is sure, all the parties against the act refuse to say what they would do in their place. Except for vague talk about facing causes of sectarianism and so forth. Nothing concrete at all. Without that, without some agreement by the other parties as to what they should do afterwards, doing away with the act achieves nothing but give encouragement to sectarian bigotry.

Robert Louis

Patrick Harvie needs to read this;

link to scraptheact.files.wordpress.com

Scot Finlayson

As someone who writes better than me wrote,

“If every rightwing thinktank came up with a scheme to distract the populace from political injustice and compensate them for lives of hard labour,

the solution in each case would be the same,

Football”.

baking cakes and Football or `bread and circuses`.

Seumas

I am certainly no fan of the Act and went on marches to prevent its implimentation. Now its here, it should be used to the fullest extent or not at all. There needs to be proper definition of whats “acceptable”, “inappropriate” or just downright hate-filled bigotry and not left up to individual officers to decide. I enquired of an officer at a Celtic v Hearts game as to why no one was being removed from the ground for calling Celtic fans “beasts” and glorifying paedophiles. The reply was that it would cause crowd disturbances as there would be too many to remove from within the Hearts support. Too much focus (pardon the pun) is on songs of Irish history which may be labelled inappropriate for a football match, nothing is being done to stop the disgusting insult of calling others “paedophiles”, because they support Celtic.

heraldnomore

Re-tuned from KwithanE to Talk Radio, only to find more fitba talk, this time on friggin’ poppies, but at least it’s FIFAbaad and not SNPbaad.

And Kelly’s not there.

Stu Mac

@Ken500 says:
1 November, 2016 at 8:48 am
===========

Wish what you said was true but the fact is it is the non-sectarian clubs (with a small handful of exceptions) who are losing fans. The Old Firm continue to attract many fans and to be a focus for bigotry.

Smallaxe

Perhaps if the range of unelected church leaders who are entitled to an unelected seat on local education committees was curtailed our schools could get on with the job of educating our young people.

Peace Always

Ruby

link to archive.is

Oil and gas firms look to explore west despite fall in crude prices

Peter. Edinburgh

Aah Stu Mac, point out anywhere I called anyone ‘fools’.

Clydebuilt

Stoker@ 31st Oct.7.21.

I’m not convinced that the opposition to the bill is centred around Celtic, unless it’s a case that The Red Tories have concentrated on their fans, I reckon there’s equal resentment from the other side of the sectarian divide.

Politics as usual from both Tory Parties.

It’s the Green’s I’m disgusted with

Clootie

@Peter face Edinburgh 8:28

Peter
You didn’t say anything constructive. Bigotry is wrong and should always be challenged. Your argument is akin to saying that the racist jokes of the 70s were just a bit of fun and with no stats to show otherwise.

You have to send a message that WE do not accept this treatment of another group in OUR society. Any pressure that can be exerted on bigots is to be welcomed.

What do you want? Scotland has ignored the religious bigots for far too long (both sides). The only way to change behaviour is for it to have consequences – drinking and driving was acceptable when I was a teenager the law not only forced a change in behaviour it has made people think about how unacceptable it was. Perhaps you would be happier if “nationalists” had to sit at the back of the bus.

Peter try to think for yourself – read about racism in America, South Africa. Read about the fight for equal rights by woman. Open your eyes to the bigotry in Northern Ireland. If you think these do not compare to the law you wish to repeal then you do not understand how quickly the embers of hatred can be fanned – look at Brexit.

We can pick division or unification.

Bob Mack

I agree that defeat would not hurt the SNP, but it would rather hurt our Society. We have lived too long with hatred either home grown or imported from across the water. Scottish history is littered with sectarian violence both on the football park and on the streets. Somewhere a message has to be put down that this is no longer acceptable

I have been both to Ibrox and Parkhead and other football grounds where this happens. The manager of Kilmarnock had his players singing the Billy boys in the dressing room earlier this year!

It may take decades to stop this anachronism but a start has to be made somewhere. I will be very disappointed in the Greens if they fail to support this vote.

Not because I appreciate they may have doubts regarding some of the clauses,but because they will be seen like it or not to be supporting other parties who are now openly seen encouraging sectarianism for political ends.

Dave McEwan Hill

Robert Peffers at 8.51

Well said, Robert.

Peter McCulloch

Has Labour brought forward any proposals yet to replace the Offensive Behaviour (Football) Act it wants to scrap?

Or is it just a case Labour of for its own political advantage wanting to scrap a piece of SNP legislation.

Robert Peffers

@Peter. Edinburgh says: 31 October, 2016 at 9:57 pm:

” … This Act has a very poor conviction rate.”

Utter pish, Peter from Edinburgh. In point of fact the small conviction figures are the greatest proof the act has been exceptionally effective. It is the sole reason why the conviction rate is small and getting smaller, because the act is working

If the act was, as you attempt to claim, NOT working we would expect the conviction rate to be increasing not decreasing.

It won’t matter a damn in any case for the once great Scottish football game is in terminal decline. A return to unbridled sectarianism and offensive behaviour by removing this act will kill off what remains of Scottish football and hopefully a departure of the Irish protestant Rangers Newco to N.I and a return of the Irish Catholic Celtic back to the Republic or perhaps to a then foreign England will see the Scottish game begin to recover.

Peter. Edinburgh

Clootie, I am not sure what point you are trying to make. 70′ s jokes? Drink driving? America, South Africa and Northern Ireland?

I agree absolutely that bigotry should be dealt with, this Act is not about bigotry, this Act is about offensive behaviour. There is legislation that dealt with both bigotry and sectarianism, it needed to be implemented. It never was.

This Act is bad legislation. Are the young Hamilton fans who were arrested and charged under this Act for singing a song about Motherwell bigots?

How has this Act dealt with the hundreds/thousands of Aberdeen fans that sang vile songs about pedophiles and Jimmy Saville towards Celtic fans last Saturday?

Muscleguy

@Liz g

Back in New Zealand ordinary people got to watch the rugby or the rugby league. Crowd support is vocal and partisan ‘Rip his head off’ can be heard when the rucks are contestable, but it isn’t meant.

In some parts of NZ the crowd might do a haka in support of their team. It is just as cathartic, involves the same stratas of society yet hatred and bigotry are absent.

So to access the claimed catharsis it is not necessary for absolute base instincts, hatred and violence to be part of it. This is the point, other places manage this, so why can’t Scottish fitba?

Ruby

Seumas

These football matches sound like a really horrible experience! Why do you go?

Would the solution to these problems for fans who object to unaccaptable behaviour not be for them to boycott the matches?

Why does everything have to be left up to the government?

Peter. Edinburgh

Robert Peppers, you think Celtic are a Catholic club? Honestly?

Peter. Edinburgh

Apologies. Above was aimed at Robert Peffers.

Seumas

I go to football to support a football team, not indulge in politics or abuse others about subjects not fit for a football stadium.

BIll McLean

James Kelly MSP – a man of lower intellect and even lower vision it would be hard to find. He should stand for MP and get himself to Westminster where he would be very much at home. A clown!

Ruby

Seumas says:
1 November, 2016 at 9:34 am

I go to football to support a football team, not indulge in politics or abuse others about subjects not fit for a football stadium.

Ruby replies

Why do you go when all this bad behaviour is happening? I reckon the solution to these problems would be for fans like yourself to do something about it. ie boycott the matches.

Money talks and as soon as these club see empty terraces then for sure something will be done. Sometimes you do need to get involved in politics even if that is just going on a march, protesting, boycotting/going on strike!

Greannach

By repealing this Act, there might be the chance of increasing discord which can only be a good thing for the continuation of the UK. “Look at the Jocks, constantly fighting amongst themselves over trivia like football. They couldn’t run a country in a month of Sundays. Leave it to the cool heads of Westminster.”

Result!

Stoker

Clydebuilt wrote (@9:17am):

“I’m not convinced that the opposition to the bill is centred around Celtic, unless it’s a case that The Red Tories have concentrated on their fans, I reckon there’s equal resentment from the other side of the sectarian divide.”

Nor should you be convinced because it’s true what you say, there’s opposition from all quarters. Sorry if my post was misleading, that was not my intention.

I specifically made a connecting mention to the Dirty Redcoat, Slabber and James Kelly because these are the facilities which for decades have used the Irish Catholic Celtic supporting community (and their vote) to create a victim persona.

It helped immensely with the Unionist agenda of divide-and-rule, and of course to sell BUM rags etc. But times have moved on as we all know and most people can no longer be used and fooled as easily as they once were.

However, there is still a hardcore (both sides) of bigots out there who, no matter what folk try to create for the good of the human race, will not accept progress because to remove their opportunity to hate is to make life meaningless to them.

For excellent reading on how things used to be, and in some quarters around Scotland still to this day, i recommend reading our own Dave McEwan Hill’ article he wrote for WOS. Sorry, i can’t remember the title of the article or i would have linked to it for you.

That’s a man who knows what he’s talking about when it comes to that particular subject. I thoroughly recommend it. 😉

Clootie

Peter fae Edinburgh @ 9:30

…ah you have resorted to the age old argument “… They started it”. The number of times I have heard that claim….!
The nice Hamilton fans were only responding to the nasty Motherwell bigots.

Perhaps your reading should include the Roman period and the use of “Games” to distract the people.

Seumas

FAO Ruby…. the bad experiences are a miniscule minority within my 35 years of following Celtic. I wish they never existed at all, but they wont stop me from supporting my team, I cant let the neanderthals win.

Peter. Edinburgh

Someone used the word skewered earlier on. I think this Act has been well skewered on Call Kaye this morning.

Jockanese Wind Talker

Thepnr says at 12:24 am

One of the funniest things I’ve read on here in a while.

Jockanese Wind Talker

Stoker says at 9:53 am

” i recommend reading our own Dave McEwan Hill’ article he wrote for WOS. Sorry, i can’t remember the title of the article or i would have linked to it for you.”

Is it this one Stoker?

link to wingsoverscotland.com

Stoker

Jockanese Wind Talker wrote:

“Is it this one Stoker?”
link to wingsoverscotland.com

That’s the one! Extremely relevant to this thread. Thank you!

DerekM

And does the non football supporting people of Scotland not get a say in this?

Oh and sectarianism is offensive behavior so does come under the act,it was never meant to only stop sectarianism it was meant to stop incidents by visiting football fans to our towns and cities and give the law a better way to prosecute than having to use the old breach of the peace act.

link to en.wikipedia.org

but hey ho can it if you want just means the police will stick breach of the peace on trouble makers again.

Yes we already had an offensive behavior act at football and everywhere else.

Tam Jardine

Peter.Edinburgh 12.29am

Can I try to elicit an answer to my question up the thread using the definition of offensive behaviour as per the OBFA:

The behaviour is—
(a) expressing hatred of, or stirring up hatred against, a group of persons based on their membership (or presumed membership) of—
(i) a religious group,
(ii) a social or cultural group with a perceived religious affiliation,
15 (iii) a group defined by reference to a thing mentioned in subsection (4),
(b) expressing hatred of, or stirring up hatred against, an individual based on the
individual’s membership (or presumed membership) of a group mentioned in any
of sub-paragraphs (i) to (iii) of paragraph (a),
(c) behaviour that is motivated (wholly or partly) by hatred of a group mentioned in
20 any of those sub-paragraphs,
(d) behaviour that is threatening, or
(e) other behaviour that a reasonable person would be likely to consider offensive.

Now calling someone a plonker clearly doesn’t fall within that definition. Shouting or singing that someone is a fenian plonker does. Or a proddie plonker.

So using the actual OBFA definition of offensive behaviour- do you think the proposed repeal will increase or decrease the instances of said behaviour occurring?

Peter, Edinburgh

Tam Jardine, I would consider the use of the word plonker to be offensive under section (e) other behaviour that a reasonable person would be likely to consider offensive.

I am a reasonable person and I consider the use of the word plonker to be offensive.

I could also consider his language threatening.

Now, are you going to define what a reasonable person is, and what this reasonable person can consider offensive?

Robert Louis

We should all be aware of those who suddenly appear here, and are working very hard overnight on this forum to divide us. ‘Divide and conquer’ is how Westminster plays its dirty games. Sophisticated trolling seems to be the modern modus operandi from unionists.

Dave McEwan Hill

wingsoverscotland.com/the-dirty-game/

It was interesting to read that piece I wrote over three years ago and reflect on where we are now.
I have little doubt now that the majority of the Catholic vote in Scotland is now with the SNP or with independence. Some of the older generation still hold out but the younger ones have crossed the road. And it’s not religion as I pointed out in that article. It was and is political/tribal.
The Scottish “Catholic ” vote is now in its natural place. The final straw (and Jim Murphy knew this well) was being asked to walk behind Union Jacks with the OO.

It would indeed be ironic that the descendents of the same people that come into Kintyre and Argyll in the 4th and 5th centuries and gave Scotland its name should be the final piece in the jigsaw that sees Scotland reclaim its normal independent state

Jockanese Wind Talker

Robert Louis says at 11:11 am

“modern modus operandi from unionist”

You thinking about these Guys ‘n’ Gals??

link to ibtimes.co.uk

Remember in their eyes we are ‘Vile Seps’ after all and the stakes regarding the financial liquidity of the rUK following Brexit are very high.

An iScotland taking its resources with it would see them the “Little England” Guy Verhofstadt has commented on.

Also Jim Rogers told the BBC that there are “serious problems facing the UK” and that “the pound’s value will ‘certainly go under one dollar’ if Scotland leaves the UK.”

The Establishment will use every trick in the book (which they wrote and revised during the age of British Imperialism) to prevent that from happening.

Peter. Edinburgh

Robert Louis, oh for God’s sake.

Apologies to Tam, my reply, sent from my laptop has not appeared. In short, I would consider the use of the word plonker to be dealt with under section (e).

heedtracker