NICOLA STURGEON has been accused of whipping up anti-English hatred after an event in Perth turned abusive with many Tory activists pelted with eggs, a news report has claimed.
Nicola Sturgeon fumes at ‘democracy denying hypocrites’
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The accusations came after a BBC journalist was abused and called a traitor at the party’s leadership hustings in Perth on Tuesday night. According to the news report, James Cook, a BBC journalist covering the event, was heckled.
Ms Sturgeon condemned the abuse of the journalist and “any abusive behaviour” at the event.
The First Minister said she was “not responsible” for the behaviour of pro-independence activists.
However, Sandesh Gulhane, a senior Scottish Tory MSP, claimed Ms Sturgeon’s attempts to “inflame her base” by suggesting Scotland was downtrodden had contributed to the angry scenes.
He told The Telegraph: “Nicola Sturgeon says she wants a respectful debate and then comes out and says Westminster are treating us like something on the sole of their shoe.
Nicola Sturgeon blamed for ‘whipping up anti-English hatred’ during an event in Perth (Image: Getty Images)
The accusations came after a BBC journalist was abused and called a traitor (Image: Getty Images)
“Everything she’s doing is to inflame her base, simply because, let’s be honest, they’re not delivering.
“So they’re whipping up their base, they’re whipping up anger and hatred. And look, it’s racist.
“They hate the English. That is the definition of racism. You’re hating a group of people based upon a characteristic.”
Rachael Hamilton, the Tory MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, said it was “disgraceful” that Ms Sturgeon had initially condemned the abuse of a BBC journalist but not of Tory members.
She said she was “not responsible” for the behaviour of pro-independence activists. (Image: Getty Images)
She made further comments about wider abuse after being asked by reporters.
Ms Hamilton said: “She’s being selective of the people she protects. “I walked in with my daughter and we were called Tory scum.
“I started videoing them and the noise got louder and louder, they were screaming at me, getting really agitated.
“Then as I stood at the door the crowd broke through. I was really shaken and I was quite horrified that my daughter experienced it, as it was her first time being at anything like that.
Hurling abuse at journalists is never acceptable. Their job is vital to our democracy & it is to report & scrutinise, not support any viewpoint. @BBCJamesCook is a journalist of the highest quality and a total pro – the behaviour he was subjected to last night was disgraceful
