Enough is enough: Former FM calls for urgent action to tackle Scotland’s bigots after riot

Former First Minister Jack McConnell has called on the Scottish Government to agree a national plan on tackling religious bigotry after a riot by sectarian thugs.

He spoke out after hundreds of police officers struggled to contain clashes between Loyalist and Republican supporters at a parade in Govan in Glasgow on Friday evening.

Riot police, officers on horseback, road blocks, a helicopter and dog units were used to quell the trouble at the Irish unity march as opposing sides threw missiles, tried to fight one another and set off flares.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the scenes as “utterly unacceptable” and welcomed a Glasgow City Council vow to review consent for marches and parades.

But Lord McConnell, who was First Minister between 2001 and 2007, called for a new national strategy to tackle religious bigotry.

In 2002 he described sectarianism as Scotland’s “secret shame” and introduced a raft of measures including tough new laws making sectarian abuse a criminal offence and building joint school campuses.

He also convened summits with football clubs, religious leaders and cultural organisations.

But Lord McConnell said that the work was abandoned by the SNP when it was elected to government in 2007, which he described as “political vandalism”.

He said: “Our government’s drive in partnership with football clubs, schools, businesses and the marching organisations was really making a difference by 2007.

“It was an act of political vandalism to end the summits and to call off that national effort.

“Religious bigotry is a cancer and if we don’t kill it off, it will keep coming back.

“The appalling behaviour at football matches and on the streets of Glasgow this year is a direct result of those decisions in 2007. It is time for the Scottish Government to get serious about this again.

“I am willing to work with Nicola Sturgeon jointly on a cross-party basis to rebuild the national effort against sectarianism. If she asks, I will say yes. It is time for us to pull together and defeat bigotry once and for all.”

Trouble broke out on Friday night when a march organised by the James Connolly Republican Flute Band passed through Govan.

Clashes between supporters and Loyalist counter-demonstrators saw missiles thrown, flares set off and violent confrontations.

Nicola Sturgeon described the scenes as “utterly unacceptable”.

She wrote on Twitter: “Peaceful protest is a part of our democracy – violent and sectarian disruption is not”.

Meanwhile council leader Susan Aitken tweeted yesterday: “Thugs obsessed with ancient hatreds used our city to stage an appalling abuse of the right to process and protest. This can’t happen again.”

A council spokesman earlier said the city “needs and wants fewer marches” and the local authority would consider “any action” to protect communities. It vowed to stop “morons intent on bringing mayhem to the streets of our city”.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said he welcomed the council’s “strong statement of intent”.

He said: “I reiterated that the Scottish Government stands ready to support the council in any way we can. We will take the necessary actions to keep our streets safe from sectarian thuggery.”

Police Scotland said two men, aged 37 and 21, have been arrested and charged following Friday’s riot.

Police are also expected to increase their presence at Ibrox today for the first Old Firm match of the season between Rangers and Celtic.

The Scottish Government said: “Sectarianism is a long-standing social ill which cannot be resolved overnight. The repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act 2012 sent entirely the wrong signal.

“This legislation was designed to tackle sectarianism, and other pernicious social issues, and was repealed in its entirety with little thought for the impact this could have.

“The Scottish Government has invested more than £14 million in work tackling sectarianism across Scotland over the last 12 years. Ministers have made clear that they would welcome constructive proposals from wherever they come, including across the Parliament.”