Angels fear to tread

Alex Salmond was forced into a humiliating climbdown over proposals to push through laws to tackle religious bigotry in time for the football season getting under way.

It followed criticism of the proposals and a controversial appearance by community safety minister Roseanna Cunningham before MSPs which intensified the confusion about which songs fans could and could not sing at matches.

Mr Salmond told MSPs at First Ministers Questions that he would delay a final vote until later this year after opposition parties, football clubs, the Church of Scotland, and lawyers complained it was foolish to rush through the legislation.