Agree with me or you’re anti-Scottish, says Michael Russell
Heated: Mr Russell made the remark during a Holyrood debate. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
A SENIOR SNP minister is under pressure to apologise after he became the latest Nationalist politician to brand opponents “anti-Scottish” for disagreeing with government policy.
Michael Russell, the education secretary, was accused of “intolerance and arrogance” after he told the Conservative education spokeswoman, Liz Smith, that her party’s support for university tuition fees was “anti-Scottish”.
His remarks follow a recent row over comments made by Nationalist backbench MSP Joan McAlpine, after she accused Labour and the Liberal Democrats of behaving in an “anti-Scottish” manner for expressing their views on the independence referendum.
Mr Russell’s remarks came during a heated debate on college funding yesterday at Holyrood.
A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said that Mr Russell would not be reprimanded, insisting the remarks were aimed at policies that “go against the grain of Scottish society”.
But Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said the Cabinet secretary’s comments were a “desperate line of defence”.
“If all else fails you descend to the gutter and accuse your opponents of being anti-Scottish,” Mr Fraser said.
“We’ve heard this from SNP back-benchers before, but to my knowledge it’s the first time we’ve heard this line from an SNP Cabinet secretary.
“The mask has slipped and the true ugly face of the SNP has been exposed.
“I expected better from him and I hope in a moment of quiet reflection he will realise that to call into the question the patriotism of your political opponents just because they take a different view on a political issue is unworthy of him and his party.”
Labour’s Hugh Henry demanded an apology, insisting it was another “unfortunate example” of what had happened since the election last May.
“There is an arrogance and there is an intolerance” he said.
“There is a view amongst those people who are now in Government that no-one else has the right to speak for anyone in Scotland except them. This creeping intolerance will lead at some point for them to say that freedom of speech for the opposition should no longer exist, and everything should be articulated only through them.”
Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur added: “Instead of deriding political opponents with derogatory remarks, Mr Russell would do better to focus his attention on making the case for more funding for Scotland’s colleges.”
Mr Russell was embroiled in a scandal two years ago when his office manager, Mark MacLachlan, was forced to quit after it emerged he had used the internet to smear political rivals by posting allegations about their private lives.
A spokesman for Mr Salmond insisted yesterday that Mr Russell’s comments were directed at the Tories’ support for tuition fees – not people in the party.
“It’s possible to abrogate policies which go against the grain of Scottish society,” he said.
“It’s not the people, it’s not the party, it’s those proposals.”
He said that former Labour MSP Cathy Jamieson, now an MP at Westminster, called the Tories “anti-Scottish” in 2010 over benefit cuts.
Ms McAlpine stood by her “anti-Scottish” claim over the attitude of unionist parties’ to the independence referendum.
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Comments
There are 203 comments to this article
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Vote 'NO'
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 12:28 AM189. They have previous. Remember Arthur Donaldson, Fuhrer wannabe's plans for a Qusling-led Scotland during WW2?
Vote 'NO'
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 12:26 AMDidn't Russell fair throw his dirty bathwater drinker Mark Mclaughlan to the wolves? Talk about ruthless. That guy's bell must still be ringing, even now. Woof woof!
Ron Greer
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 12:24 AM195: -----Stop bringing spurious comparisons with Gandhi and Salmond--it's anti- Indian.
Cynicus
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:55 PMCC
Marga
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:48 PMIt's not so much that the opposition criticises SNP policies, it's more that it rarely does anything else. And anyone who thinks they're not anti-Scottish should watch Scottish Questions in Westminster.
Richard Lionheart
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:38 PMno political party in Scotland can complain about the use of tagging for political puposes; they all do it! Tags used include, Climate change deniers, Homophobic, Islamaphobic, Sectarian, Eurosceptic. Politicians are always keen to Tag those who disagree with them. It's not new!
allymax
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 08:23 PM#175 GMacd... is...................................................anti-Scottish.
Tam O'Banter
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 06:50 PMHow dare the Nats tell those who disagree with separation that they are anti-Scottish. It's because we love Scotland more than them that we are trying to save it from their arrogance. Russell should leave the bluff and bluster to his boss.
Colonialtoff
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:51 PM187 if Salmond is the Scottish Ghandi let's see him go on a starvation protest as Ghandi did. Seems to me he is quite comfortable under the rule of his oppressors. By the way the empire was British and the Scots played and enjoyed the whole experience.
Finnzz
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:50 PMRussell is of course quite correct to label that Tory Liz Smith anti-Scottish. Anti-Scottish being something that is to the detriment of the Scots.
Ron Greer
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:42 PM191 Derryboy You left out economy like Bangladesh, customs posts at the border, difficulty changing money, cannae visit yer grannie in Blackpool, too wee, too wet , too cold, too poor, too stupid, too far away frae the markets, too rugged and the Orkney-Shetland independence movement removing much of the oil revenue stream. Has the Perfidious Albion Office sheeite stiiring office not briefed you properly?
Blantyre Bill
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:29 PMRussel has proved that he is a fool.
Derryboy
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:25 PMAnother SNP race traitor hurling abuse at those who disagree with his aims, yet is determined to prevent native Scots voting in the referendum if they have had the temerity to move away from this sad little country who's elected politicians are determined to make us into the next North korea or Albania.
Jolly
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:23 PM185 Ron Greer Worrying extremism is growing in Norway too!! Remember the dreadful events last year??? So sad!
Jolly
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:19 PMOh dear, ....Mr Russell! He is not alone in these extremist views. Many other SNP fascists are out there. Beware!!
Page 1 of 14
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