Conservative MP Murdo Fraser has taken aim at the Scottish National Party and asks if the governing party in Scotland has “a Rangers problem”.
Fraser claims – via the Scotsman – the SNP “seem to have a Rangers problem” and believes they are “nakedly hostile” to the Gers, whose traditional unionist roots make them a convenient “whipping boy” for the nationalist party.
Not only this, but the politician questions the motives behind the public attacks and their relationship with the SNP’s charge for Scottish independence.
Fraser was speaking after a summer of discontent which saw several run-ins between the Rangers support, the team and the club with the SNP.
Many Rangers fans feel there were double standards at play in the reaction to the Ibrox support celebrating the club’s legendary 55th league title.
Whilst those celebrations were marred by disgraceful scenes from a small minority, the reaction was not parallel to that concerning Scotland national team fans, who travelled to London during Euro 2020.
There were several video clips of disgraceful behaviour in that travelling party whilst a Covid-19 spike was attributed to the trip down south.
A dispersal order was also issued by police in central London in the wake of “anti-social” behaviour [Evening Standard].
Despite this – and despite the fact Rangers fans were resoundingly criticised by the government and in the press – the SNP shied away from applying the same reaction to the Scotland support.
Rangers fans were also made to feel guilty for a Covid-19 spike that never came – despite Scotland fans spreading the virus during the trip to London.
Two SNP MSPs – including the then justice minister – would also be caught up in a disgraceful storm surrounding a clearly doctored TikTok video of the Rangers squad.
Humza Yousaf and James Dornan – quite deliberately many believe – pushed a narrative surrounding the video which concerned allegations of the Rangers team chanting sectarian songs.
This was eventually rebuffed by Police Scotland – but not before it had made national news bulletins – with both politicians yet to apologise despite James Dornan explicitly claiming he would.
Whether it’s relevant to note that both individuals are big Celtic fans remains to be seen but given the backdrop you can see why plenty feel the distinction is important.
This unbalanced and objectively unfair treatment has led many within Rangers circles to question the agenda behind the SNP’s approach to the Ibrox club.
As a result, Murdo Fraser – writing for the Scotsman – has asked if the SNP are misguided in their approach to Rangers, far and away the most supported football club in the country.
Fraser would also highlight the “malicious prosecution” of former Rangers administrators, the potential £100m cost of this to the tax-payer and why this was allowed to happen in the first place.
It puts into perspective the feeling amongst many in the Ibrox support – a group from which plenty will support the SNP – and it’s certainly worth a gander. Read it HERE.
Plenty of Rangers fans are furious at the conduct of James Dornan and have demanded an apology – as promised – for the disgraceful TikTok video incident.
