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The SNP’s struggles with sectarianism

BBC

It’s not been a great week for James Dornan. On Saturday the SNP MSP was forced to apologise (again) for suggesting Lothian Buses’ decision to cancel travel services over anti-social behaviour was linked to St Patrick’s Day, with the implication that the company blamed Catholics for the problem. 

Then on Wednesday Mr S showed the lengths the Hate-Finder General had gone to investigate the now debunked Tik Tok video of Rangers players allegedly singing a sectarian song, requesting information for his constituents which he then appears to have not subsequently disclosed.

Now one of Steerpike’s readers has got in touch to point out Dornan’s comments made during the Holyrood election back in May. The gaffe-prone Glaswegian spoke at a hustings organised by the Irish Voice newspaper at which he said that the terms ‘anti-Catholicism’ and ‘anti-Irish racism’ would be used by the SNP in place of ‘sectarianism.’ 

Advocates for such a change argue that using ‘identifying’ language will encourage greater awareness of the specific discrimination members of the Irish community experience, amid concerns the existing label has been used ‘as a palatable euphemism,’ tacitly encouraging political complacency on this issue.

Steerpike was therefore keen to see whether the Scottish government had done anything to see such changes introduced in law. Since 2011, all government policy or process changes in Scotland have required an Equality Impact Assessment to be made beforehand – therefore, if such proposals were to become law, an EIA would exist.

But a Freedom of Information response from the Scottish government has now revealed that no such assessment has been made.

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Steerpike
Written by
Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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