SNP activist faces disciplinary hearing over homophobic remark
8 Jul 2012 11:35
A MEMBER of the SNP has been accused of making a homophobic remark about the independence campaign on his blog.
George Laird, 49, will face a hearing in front of the party’s disciplinary committee today.
He could be kicked out of the party over the article on his “The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University” blog.
Writing about the launch of the campaign, he said: “Rather than ‘The A Team’ it looked more like ‘The GAY Team’ in nature.”
Actors Brian Cox and Alan Cummings were among those to lend their support to leader Alex Salmond and his deputy Nicola Sturgeon at the launch in Edinburgh in May.
National secretary William Henderson made the complaint.
In a letter to disciplinary committee convener Elaine Wylie, he said: “His comment both implies that sexual orientation bears some relevance in the independence campaign, and that somehow sexual orientation diminishes the impact of those involved in the campaign.”
But Laird, who has been a member of the Glasgow Pollok branch of the party since 2009, last night denied he was a homophobe.
He said: “I don’t regret the remark. Nothing in that post was homophobic. The entire post had nothing to do with sex or sexual orientation. The context in which the word ‘gay’ was used was ‘happy’.
“I am the victim of a smear campaign. William Henderson who made the complaint has been instrumental in organising the hearing against me.”
An SNP spokesman said: “Mr Laird is subject to a disciplinary complaint. It would be inappropriate to comment further.”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/polit ... ng-1166336
