hustings Perth

[WhereAreMyAirpods]

How is it legal to stand outside a conference centre with a 10 foot long, 3 feet high banner proclaiming "TORY SCUM OUT", when there is an event for Tory voters inside? How is this not a hate crime?

Irrespective of your polities, how is this OK and acceptable in Scotland? Imagine if you turned up outside the SNP conference with a similar banner saying "NATIONALIST SCUM OUT"?

Because hate crimes have to be against a protected characteristic. Last time I checked Tories weren't a race

Is being intimidating legal? Who'd want to run the gauntlet of that to get into a conference centre?

Urgh. You just have to comfort yourself with the knowledge that those people have horrible hate-filled lives that they deserve.

The whole ‘scum’ thing is extreme and awful - no one sophisticated thinks like this. Most politicians have friends in other parties for starters.

How was the hustings?

I just can't understand what makes anyone want to stand in the street with an abusive banner, being horrible and offensive to people they don;t know just because of the way they vote.

I very much dislike the SNP and everything they stand for but cannot conceive of a situation where I would ever stand there screaming abuse at their supporters in the street.

That’s because you have a brain, OP. And a life.

You do realise the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party used the term 'Tory Scum'? Just incase you weren't aware / assumed the individuals are part of a particular party

Oh no, I'm well aware that she said that. Lots of people SAY it (or similar things) to an audience of like minded people, but it's quite another thing to stand in the street yelling it at strangers.

I don't think Rayner was right in her choice of language, but the Perth lot are a whole other level.

Rayner rowed back on the scum straight after the Sir David Ames murder. She recognised its not ok to demonise other people like that.

Don't be such a snowflake. It's freedom of speech

I don't agree with the abuse and would not do it myself but some policies have caused people to die that's why. So I do understand their reasons.

what these people are too hard-of-thinking to appreciate is that if Scotland ever did get independence their benefits would be cut so deep they’d starve to death pretty quickly. Tory austerity would be very much austerity lite in comparison.

But @Tinkerblonde1 why does "being upset with policies or disagreeing" have to mean "standing in the street screaming abuse at people"?

I'd like to think Scotland is better than that but clearly it's not.

I wansn't there @PersonaNonGarter - I just saw it on telly. I'm not a member of any political party and never have been. I'm a floating voter who has voted for all of the main parties over the years, just not the SNP.

Yeah, and we judge the stupidity and aggression. That’s why Rayner apologised.

Utter fuds. If any of them actually took the time out to speak to Liz Smith (MSP) they might be pleasantly surprised. Genuinely the nicest, most hard-working, caring and genuine political type I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.

I seriously think Scotland is going to end up as the next Northern Ireland. These people are crazy. Nicola Sturgeon just whips them up into a frenzy saying their democratic will is not being respected by Westminster. She said at the last Scottish election that if people voted SNP they were voting for a mandate to get a referendum, conveniently ignoring the fact that she has absolutely no authority to grant a referendum. It’s not in her power. She promised them something she does not have the ability to deliver, they whines when she’s told she does not have the power to deliver. This constant, never-ending grievance-mongering, when combined with the IQ of the people on display last night, will give rise to violence.

Completely agree @Mousemat25, depressing.

Reports today about a BBC journalist being abused with NS having to call it out.
They were asked how long they had been in Scotland, called a traitor etc etc. Having been on the end of some of the small percentage of indy supporters horrid behaviour and anti English sentiment I'm glad they showed their true colours against a journalist. So often I'm told it doesn't exist or it's not common etc well they have just shown otherwise and for it all to be reported on.

Can hardly pretend now that this isn't what people face on a regular basis when the independence vote comes into play now!

Nationalism often has an ugly side. Look at history across the globe. There is usually an element of pitting one nation against their neighbours.

Brexit was a form of nationalism.
And Trump with America first

The logo on the banner isn't The SNP Logo though. You realise that, yeah? It's just that you keep referencing The SNP.

Yes because all those people who were there in Perth with their "tory scum out", "dissolve the union", "independence now" and saltire flags are clearly Labour voters.

The 'Tory Scum' banner was by Siol nan Gaidheal, meaning "Seed of the Gaels". It's a minor Scottish ultranationalist and ethnic nationalist group that the SNP actively proscribed 40 years ago in 1982.