LABOUR leadership hopeful Emily Thornberry has today apologised for saying she "hates" the SNP.
The Shadow Foreign Secretary claimed she "hates" the SNP and called the party "Tories wrapped up in nationalist clothing".
She was severely criticised including by senior Scottish Labour figures for making the remark at a Labour leadership hustings last weekend.
Responding to a question on the SNP’s record in government, she said: "I hate the SNP. I think they're Tories wrapped up in nationalist clothing. I think they pretend to be on the Left."
But she has now apologised.
Before asking an urgent question in the Commons on the USA’s proposed Middle East peace plan, she said: "Could I take a brief moment to apologise to my colleagues on the SNP benches for the language I used in the heat of hustings last week.
"When we are debating the Middle East it is a salutary reminder to me both in that there is no place for hate in our politics and also that on almost every foreign policy issue, including this one, we have opposed the Tory government together, and I’m sorry for what I’ve said."
SNP MPs praised the move, with Pete Wishart tweeting: "A full apology from Emily Thornberry for her 'I hate the SNP' comment. Just made in the chamber. Good to see senior MPs put their hands up when they get the tone so badly wrong.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel