Paul McBride | TalkCeltic

Artur Boruc #1 · Nov 6, 2011

After reading this, I actually feel embarrassed at the way I went on about him at times last season!

His cards were marked after he gave that interview to CU, and this just adds to that.

Any Celtic fan who wants their fellow fans criminalised for singing a song needs to take a right good look at themselves.

Using the term "Celtic fan" very loosely here as he thinks we beat Kilmarnock to stop the ten, and thought that we beat the huns 5-1 in MON's first derby game.

LEADING QC Paul McBride, one of the Tory party’s most high profile supporters in Scotland, ditched his party membership yesterday just hours after its new leader was elected and following a row over its failure to back a crackdown on sectarianism.

The lawyer, who was once tipped as a possible Conservative advocate general at Westminster, yesterday sent a letter to the party’s chairman Andrew Fulton stating that he no longer wished to continue his membership of a party which “stands for nothing and opposes everything”.

His resignation follows the controversy over the introduction of new anti-sectarian legislation by the Scottish Parliament. Celtic supporter McBride, who was sent a letter bomb at a time when Catholic supporters were being targeted, wants to see tough new laws introduced to tackle the problem.

However, Tory MSPs last week opposed the two new offences which the Scottish Government wants to bring in for football related sectarianism.
McBride said: “This was a party whose whole cabinet was almost destroyed by the IRA and they are refusing to criminalise people singing songs celebrating the IRA.”

Although McBride used to advise the Scottish Tories on criminal justice issues, he has frequently found himself at odds with the party in recent months.

He was furious after the Tory justice spokesman, John Lamont, blamed the west of Scotland system of segregating children into Catholic and non-denominational schools for overseeing what he called “state-sponsored conditioning of sectarian attitudes.” McBride publicly supported Jackson Carlaw in his bid to succeed Annabel Goldie as leader of the party and he last night dismissed new leader Ruth Davidson’s chances of reviving the party in Scotland. “They have a leader who has no policies and little experience apart from having been on television about as many times as I have,” he said.

“Alex Salmond must be thrilled. The Scottish Conservative party stands for nothing and opposes everything, they are in terminal decline. At least the SNP are trying to do something about sectarianism and the alcohol culture in Scotland. They may not succeed but they are making an effort to do the right thing.”

McBride became one of the Conservatives’ best-known supporters following his defection from Labour two years ago. He has spoken for the party on justice issues in the past and he took part in a party political broadcast for the party in the run up to the last general election. He said he had no plans to join any other political party following his resignation.

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservative party said: “We don’t comment on internal party matters.”
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TAB · Nov 6, 2011

Very good lawyer but it seems he does have some embarrassing opinions.

obonfanti1888 · Nov 6, 2011

seems more and more like a shameless self publicist; he certainly had his part to play last season but his stance on this bill is laughable; i understand why he might want something to be done since he himself got bombs sent to him but c'mon, is criminalizing celtic fans really going to stop that mr mc bride?

Ricardinho · Nov 6, 2011

For a smart individual I did find his opinion on the term 'Hun' on the CU podcast pretty naive. He never gave any actual reason that the term should no longer be used.

Larsson93 · Nov 6, 2011

He is good at his job, that is it.

PaulM1888 · Nov 6, 2011

I can see why he holds the opinion and why it is in the public domain.

Dáibhí · Nov 6, 2011

He's a great lawyer, but a questionable human being in my opinion.

Markybhoy · Nov 6, 2011

I find his political views abhorrent. He certainly isn't the hero some people proclaimed him to be last season.

Lion1961 · Nov 6, 2011

Excellent lawyer but very questionable personality.

Silent Singer · Nov 6, 2011

stick to day the day job and leave personal agendas out of it.

Do the Broony · Nov 6, 2011

He loves having his face on TV, and seems to have an awful big opinion of himself. Before last season, had anyone actually heard of him?

I can see him standing for election in a few years time, or getting a job with the Scottish Executive advising them on legal matters.

Seosamh Máirtín · Nov 6, 2011

What good has he actually done for the club? Defended Lennon? I'm sure his pockets were well filled for that...

Artur Boruc #1 · Nov 6, 2011

LisbonLion87 said: ↑

What good has he actually done for the club? Defended Lennon? I'm sure his pockets were well filled for that...
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TBF he backed Lennon to the hilt, and he got it right up the SFA with that concurrent and consecutive patter thus reducing Lenny's touchline ban.

He also spoke up about this sectarian backwater, and the prejudices which are still rampant here.

Agree with Obonfanti though in that he is a self publicist, and as I say anyone who actually wants Celtic fans locked up for singing songs is very questionable to say the least.

His criminalisation patter is very typical of the pompous middle class attitudes shown towards football fans.

Artur Boruc #1

TAB

obonfanti1888

Ricardinho

Larsson93

PaulM1888 Moderator Moderator

Dáibhí

Markybhoy

Lion1961 Bookmaker

Silent Singer

Do the Broony

Seosamh Máirtín

Artur Boruc #1