A SCOTTISH Labour councillor has sparked a row over face coverings after tweeting that “bad taste doesn’t cover” the SNP’s branded masks.
The party is selling masks featuring the SNP and Yes logos, as well as tartan and Saltire patterns. Malcolm Cunning, a Labour councillor for Glasgow’s Linn ward, posted a screenshot of the online shop with a furious comment.
“The folks at the SNP would put a logo on their granny’s coffin if they thought it would gain them a single vote,” he posted.
The folks at @theSNP would put a logo on their granny's coffin if they thought it would gain them a single vote. Bad taste doesn't cover it. pic.twitter.com/vRLuyHgIUm
— Cllr Malcolm Cunning (@Malcolm4Linn) July 25, 2020
Currently no other party is selling branded face coverings, although many independent online shops stock masks with Union flag or political designs.
SNP councillor Mhairi Hunter accused Cunning of “feigning horror” over the products.
“Face coverings are going to be part of how we live for some time to come,” she argued. “We need to think of them the same way as our clothes. Things we put on every day when we go out to the shop or to get a bus etc.”
Various politicians feigning horror the SNP is selling face coverings. Why? Face coverings are going to be part of how we live for some time to come. We need to think of them the same way as our clothes. Things we put on every day when we go out to the shop or to get a bus etc.
— Mhairi Hunter (@MhairiHunter) July 25, 2020
She added she had seen face coverings with all kinds of slogans for sale while out and about, including one similar to the Straight Outta Compton poster that said “Straight Outta Lockdown”.
“There’s going to be lots of that stuff. It’s good,” she said. “It normalised wearing face coverings.”
Former councillor Austin Sheridan said Cunning’s tweet was “absolutely awful”. He called on him to apologise for “such an insensitive tweet considering people have lost their grandparents during this pandemic”.
Some users argued it was an example of “profiteering” – but others said there was no difference between the face coverings or a T-shirt.
An SNP spokesperson said: “Just like football clubs and many others, we’ve launched our own branded face coverings. We would encourage everyone to help suppress the virus by following the guidance on face coverings.”
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