LABOUR leadership candidate Emily Thornbury has kicked up a storm online after stating "I hate the SNP" at a leadership hustings in Nottingham.
Speaking at the Open Labour Winter Conference and Leadership Hustings at Nottingham Trent University city campus, the shadow foreign secretary claimed that she hates the SNP and described the party as "Tories wrapped up in nationalist clothing".
Her statement drew immediate criticisism, including from others within her own party such as former Labour MP Mark Lazarowicz, who lost his seat to the SNP in 2015.
Dear @EmilyThornberry I have no reason to like the SNP. I would never join them. I lost my seat as MP to the SNP. I don't like nationalism (although I am more worried about what British/English nationalism is doing here and now). But your comments are ridiculous and offensive. https://t.co/cIqXtxRsUX
— Mark Lazarowicz (@marklazarowicz) January 26, 2020
However, Lazarowicz wasn't the only one to find the leadership hopeful's comments to be in poor taste. Here's how Twitter reacted:
Emily Thornberry: "I hate the SNP. I hate the SNP. I think they're Tories wrapped up in nationalist clothing." Cheered by a Labour hustings.
— Michael Gray (@GrayInGlasgow) January 26, 2020
Sneering, entitled, hostile, factional. An intellectual vacuum. This is why Scotland left Labour & there's no chance of it coming back. pic.twitter.com/OTESACmRpO
When Emily Thornberry says she hates the SNP does she mean the 48 MP’s campaigning for social justice with her in WM? Or perhaps she means the MSP’s who’ve spent the last 13 years implementing policies her party support? Or does she mean the 1,242,380 Scots who voted for them?
— Jack O’Neil #FBPJOFEAFAYSIC2020 (@JackONeil90) January 26, 2020
Disturbing and dangerous language from @EmilyThornberry and a shocking reaction from members. Is hatred all @UKLabour have left? Let's hear Scottish Labour condemn this. pic.twitter.com/pho7y13Fqb
— Phantom Power (@PhantomPower14) January 26, 2020
If I were Emily Thornberry, I'd go easy on branding the SNP as Tartan Tories. They're the only party to win an election on a social democratic platform anywhere in Britain in the last decade.
— David Osland (@David__Osland) January 26, 2020
Speaking to some very frustrated friends in Scottish Labour tonight and there is disquiet and irritation at Emily Thornberry's SNP outburst. This constant underestimation of the importance of the constitutional q's to people in Scotland is worrying. (...)
— Rob McDowall 🏴 🏳️🌈 (@robmcd85) January 26, 2020
Crikey! @EmilyThornberry says @theSNP members are Tories wrapped in nationalist clothing!!? As someone born in a County Durham coal & steel town, to be called a flamin’ Tory is offensive. Rein it in Emily. I was born a Geordie & chose to become a Scot & proud member of @theSNP
— yvonne ridley (@yvonneridley) January 26, 2020
Emily Thornberry hates the SNP? Sure. Emily Thornberry thinks the SNP are Tories? Huh.
— Camer⭕n Archibald🦉 (@MammothWhale) January 27, 2020
The same Emily Thornberry who abstained on the 2015 Welfare Bill that forces rape victims to prove their suffering is worthy of government welfare, just so they can feed their kids?
Right.
Perhaps @EmilyThornberry could explain why Labour's manifesto was so full of policies they copied from the SNP. https://t.co/Y0xeeXAtBI
— Peter Grant MP (@PeterGrantMP) January 27, 2020
Scotlands message to Emily Thornberry and Labour -Make a sentence using these words. pic.twitter.com/VO6B9ddz36
— William (@William62740986) January 26, 2020
This is why Scottish Labour are down to one seat “I HATE THE SNP” doing the best PR ever on Scotland @EmilyThornberry pic.twitter.com/cHqJpD8VLk
— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) January 26, 2020
Maybe Emily Thornberry hates the fact that @Ianblackford_MP does a better job of holding the UK Tory Government to account than her party does?
— Julie Hepburn (@juliehepburnsnp) January 26, 2020
It was Labour’s abstention - including that of Emily Thornberry - on the Tory Welfare Bill in 2015 that allowed for the two child cap and rape clause to become a reality, despite fierce Political opposition from @alisonthewliss.
— Brenna (@brennajessie_) January 27, 2020
Debated Emily Thornberry before. Was not impressed. Though, it does offer some weekend comedy that she of all people is claiming others are pretending to be left-wing.
— Jonathon Shafi (@Jonathon_Shafi) January 26, 2020
Bold of @EmilyThornberry, given lots of Labour policy comes straight out of SNP manifestos. What she really hates, I suspect, is that the SNP has had success. Said it before:: Labour would rather see people suffer than have positive change delivered by someone that isn't Labour.
— Declan B💛⭕ (@YesWithDex) January 26, 2020
Is there anyone in Scottish Labour who is mortified by what Emily Thornberry said yesterday? Or are they all either ignoring it, or saying it's just a wee bit of criticism? Perhaps it's me, but when someone says they hate me, I take it a bit personally.
— Mel 🇪🇺 (@meljomur) January 27, 2020
It would be fair to say her comments have not gone down well in Scotland then...
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