SNP seeks to win full support for bigotry bill

ALEX Salmond is preparing to agree to a formal review of his anti-sectarianism crackdown to appease critics who claim the measures he is proposing will prove to be either worthless or counter-productive.

The First Minister is expected to back a call from MSPs to put the new laws under review after they get through a parliamentary vote, so sceptics can monitor whether or not they make any difference.

The move comes after Salmond’s bid to win unanimous backing was damaged last week when Labour MSPs announced they were opposing the new laws on the grounds that they might make the fight against sectarianism harder.

Under the controversial plans tabled by the Scottish Government, football fans will face tough new penalties for “offensive behaviour” in or around grounds that is deemed to “incite religious, racial or other forms of hatred”.

Furthermore, a new penalty is to be imposed on “threatening communications” to crack down on internet hate blogs. A maximum sentence of five years could be imposed.

But the bill –the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act – has faced claims it is unnecessary particularly as sectarian offences are already charged under breach of the peace, or as an aggravated crime. There are also concerns that the bill will cause confusion over what is deemed to be offensive, thereby putting the reputation of the law at risk. The SNP has a majority at the Scottish Parliament and, therefore, can push the bill forward, but ministers want unanimous backing on what is sure to be a contentious issue.

The First Minister won the backing of the Catholic Church last week after offering a “freedom of speech” concession to appease fears the laws might be used to crack down on the expression of religious views.

He is now expected to accept a recommendation from the parliament’s justice committee to keep the new laws under review. It comes after community safety minister Roseanna Cunningham said she had an “open-mind” about such a provision.

A senior Scottish Government source said last night: “This bill will be good for Scottish football and good for Scottish society, and we genuinely want MSPs across the chamber to get behind it. A year from now, when it is in place and the police and prosecutors are using the tools it gives them to root out sectarianism, folk will wonder why any MSPs were against it.”

Officials claim the new powers will fill a gap in the law, where people shouting abuse at or near football matches have not been prosecuted because they were not deemed to have breached the peace.

But it is understood that Cunningham told Church leaders in private talks on Friday that the bill was first and foremost intended to be “symbolic”. Ministers believe they need to send a zero tolerance message which justifies the reforms even if, as critics allege, they will not be used.