Pro UK MP puts the boot into England!

SNP attacks former Scots Secretary’s slur on Auld Enemy.

Like many of his colleagues, Labour MP Jim Murphy seems to spend half his time arguing that Scotland would be ‘better together’ with England.

But that hasn’t stopped him taking a pop at the country’s football team.

At an event to promote a book he has written, the former Scottish Secretary was asked about Wayne Rooney and Co’s chances of winning this year’s World Cup.

However, rather than skilfully sidestep the question, he described England as **** and mired himself in controversy.

The East Renfrewshire MP said: “It’s not going to happen, because they’re ****.

“If they manage to beat Spain, and Germany, and Argentina then they’ll have changed the rules of the sport.

“It won’t happen. I think most people in Scotland are kind of relaxed about it.”

The comment was in poor taste according to SNP MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, James Dornan.

He said: “As Scotland fans are discussing our own national team’s improving form it is sad Jim Murphy is stuck in a bygone era making disrespectful comments about our neighbours.”

Mark Perryman, a football writer involved with a number of England supporters’ groups, said: “Jim Murphy is involved in the Better Together campaign which wants us all to stay together so he should really remember and reflect on that before he offers his opinion on England.

“What this illustrates is that Scotland and England are separate nations on the football pitch and I think it is time they were separate nations off it as well.”

Murphy later insisted his comment was a lighthearted off-the- cuff remark, adding: “Most fans know that England will have their work cut out. An English Messi or Xavi would be a real help.”

The Labour MP has just finished the book, The Ten Football Matches Which Changed the World.

The book explores the consequences of a number of huge games such as West Germany winning the World Cup in 1954, as well as long-held rivalries including the Old Firm in Scotland and Barcelona versus Real Madrid in Spain.

Also included is the famous 1914 Christmas Truce match on the Western Front which Murphy described as the one game which sadly didn’t change the world.

Murphy revealed the book, due to be published just before the World Cup gets under way, was a personal project.

He said: “It’s a book about football and politics. It’s not about the Lisbon Lions or about England winning the World Cup in 1966. It’s about social history.”

A tricky political football

As Scotland has sadly become accustomed to not qualifying for major tournaments, the thorny issue of who to support has caught out a number of Scots

politicians.

The late Donald Dewar won the hearts of Scotland fans all over the country when, as Scottish Secretary, he let civil servants go home early to watch the glamour opening match of the 1998 World Cup against Brazil.

Former Labour First Minister Jack McConnell came under fire in 2006 when he said he would be supporting

anyone but England.

The current First Minister Alex Salmond has tread a more careful path, backing

England in 2010 and again for this year’s tournament.

Speaking during a visit to Downing Street last year, he said: “I doubt if you will find me wearing an England shirt, but no doubt I’ll find myself in many of the games giving them lots of support.”