DOUGLAS Ross has said an SNP-Green deal would lead to “anti-families” governance – with his comments branded a "dog-whistle" for homophobes.
The Scottish Tory leader wrote that the agreement would lead to a “coalition of chaos”, with a joint conference between the Greens co-leaders and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon due today.
The label of “anti-families” has often been used in the past in reference to legislation that improves rights for LGBT people, such as same-sex marriage.
READ MORE: Calls for SNP members to be given vote on co-operation deal with Greens
Ross tweeted: “Scotland will suffer from this nationalist coalition of chaos.
“The SNP-Green government will be anti-jobs, anti-business, anti-families, anti-drivers, anti-oil and gas.
“Nicola Sturgeon failed to win a majority, so she needs a hand to ramp up the division and push for indyref2.”
Scotland will suffer from this nationalist coalition of chaos.
— Douglas Ross MP MSP (@Douglas4Moray) August 20, 2021
The SNP-Green government will be anti-jobs, anti-business, anti-families, anti-drivers, anti-oil and gas.
Nicola Sturgeon failed to win a majority, so she needs a hand to ramp up the division and push for indyref2.
The SNP and Scottish Greens were both elected on a manifesto to hold indyref2 and have a majority in Holyrood.
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SNP MSP Karen Adam, who grew up in a same-sex home, was among many to call out the comment.
She said: “Anti-families? What on earth does that mean?
“Please break that down for everyone so we know exactly what you are meaning. Does it mean any family that doesn’t fit a narrative you feel fits your opinion? Are you saying I haven’t had a real family? My family isn’t a real one?”
Anti-families?
— Karen Adam MSP (@KarenAdamMSP) August 20, 2021
What on earth does that mean?
Please break that down for everyone so we know exactly what you are meaning. Does it mean any family that doesn’t fit a narrative you feel fits your opinion? Are you saying I haven’t had a real family? My family isn’t a real one? https://t.co/cJunhxegPz
Unionist commentator Duncan Hothershall weighed in too.
He wrote: “Watch in real time as @ScotTories descends into Section 28 era rhetoric two years after it was led by an out gay woman. ‘Anti-families’ is as loud and shameful a dog whistle to homophobes and transphobes as any we have seen in mainstream Scottish politics since the early 2000s.”
A vast number of other social media users have also made their voices heard.
What does “anti-families” mean??? 🤔 https://t.co/RG2RYgfL3H
— Gillian Martin (@GillianMSP) August 20, 2021
Anti-families??
— The Hub (@TheHubScot) August 20, 2021
Want to check what colour rosette you wear before saying nonsense like that? https://t.co/pAu5zdLOnA
Whatever your thoughts on SNP/Greens - the idea that 'anti oil and gas' is a Bad Thing sure is a steaming hot take in the wake of the latest IPCC report 🤨
— Isla Catrìona (@islascribbles) August 20, 2021
(also we all know what you mean by 'anti family', you're not subtle) https://t.co/ZhntX2Pq8C
Anti-family..?
— Eilidh Queen of Scots 🌽💕✨🏳️⚧ (@HEilidh) August 20, 2021
Fuck me Douglas, you've woken up all the dugs in the street. Dinny blaw on the whistle too hard. https://t.co/bUkqHTMral
“Anti-family” is just another way of saying “pro-LGBT+”.
— Alasdair (@Alasdair91) August 20, 2021
Is Douglas Ross really going to swing to the right and undo the progress the Tories made on equality under Ruth?
Small minded bigotry rots the brain, Dougie… https://t.co/btHZ7u0JKe
“Anti family”?
— Kris Hendry (@kris_hendry) August 20, 2021
Thank goodness we don’t have historical evidence to consider what sort of dog whistle that sort of language is meant to create hostility against 🤔 https://t.co/YzvfMdVkT7
Have you outsourced your tweets to an American Republican Congressman's office or something.
— Exhibit removed for study (@JaroslavH) August 20, 2021
Um excuse me but anti-families, Fancy expanding oan that?
— Got It Memorised? (@BrendanJ466) August 20, 2021
Also everyone should be aiming to eliminate oil and gas use or have you not noticed there's a climate crisis?
I know you're a linesman but you cannae be that blind#antiTory https://t.co/fN5ZpJZHwV
"Anti-families"?
— Michael Hutchison (@SNPMichael) August 20, 2021
Ditch the dog whistle and say what you really mean. https://t.co/u4IDftEuRV
Could you elaborate on what you mean by "anti-families"? Try to be explicit in your answer, lest there be some unfortunate misunderstanding about what you're insinuating.
— Joel C (@joel_ca_c) August 20, 2021
Anti-families? You actually put that out on a public forum? Jaw dropping new low.
— Thig ar latha. Tak tent, caw canny. (@ron_mould) August 20, 2021
erm very odd you say that as i am sure the actual agenda is it help families and improve employment,thinking about the environmental impacts, and giving the poorest a boost upwards, they both support UBI which Finland has found to improve family life and the creation of new jobs.
— Jason Warren (@JasonKingsleyW1) August 20, 2021
So anti-family that they give baby boxes to families of new borns, funding for early learning, school uniform grants, free school meals in holidays & child support payments of £10 p.w. to needy families, whereas the Tories are so pro family that they don't do any of that at all.
— Staples (@Staples1955) August 20, 2021
Responding to the criticism, a Scottish Tory spokesperson said: “It is 100% wrong to suggest this comment was about LGBT families. Nothing whatsoever in this tweet is critical of LGBT people.
“This comment was solely about the SNP-Green coalition hammering hard-working families, as we have said repeatedly since news of a nationalist deal broke.
“By 'anti-families', we mean exactly that – the SNP-Green Government will be harmful to families of all kinds across Scotland, regardless of the sex, gender or background of those families.”
Other elements of Ross’s comment were called out for their hypocrisy.
People pointed to the Scottish Government’s support of families through baby boxes and the child payment, with no such policies offered by the Tories.
They also highlighted the deal between the Tories and the DUP on Brexit.
Did Bernard Manning write this? https://t.co/eGPtr8h3KL
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) August 20, 2021
It must be shocking for the @ScotTories to watch other political parties forming a coalition to push forward agendas they campaigned for - something they clearly can’t do.
— Nikita Bassi (@NikitaBassi123) August 20, 2021
This agreement has them feart. https://t.co/iXWxcSmb8a
You’re just salty it won’t be anti-traveller.
— Euan Yours (@EuanYours) August 20, 2021
The reason the SNP failed to win a majority is that’s the way that the voting system works for the SG elections. It allows smaller parties to get MSPs voted in that would not have a chance of winning a constituency vote, Some MSPs choose not to represent a constituency 🤔
— Martin 🏴 (@martinyule68) August 20, 2021
Nicola Sturgeon took 2 seats from the Tories who relied on tactical voting and the list vote to tread water and only did so because thousands of green votes were not counted towards their total which would have seen Tories lose seats in Glasgow. Scotland is not a Tory country
— James Sellar (@sellar_james) August 20, 2021
Indyref2 - happening ✅
— 🏴Fórcola🇮🇹 (@Frcola1) August 20, 2021
Everybody's anti-oil and gas. The world's burning FFS.
— Graham P (@gwpurnell) August 20, 2021
🤣🤣🤣🤣 this actually made me belly laugh..have you thought about stand up 🤣🤣🤣
— Weejaggythistle 🌳🌻😁🌎🌝 (@Glasgowheed) August 20, 2021
Bless - remember when they said Ed Miliband would lead to chaos.
— Tim Morrison (@OrkneyVole) August 20, 2021
Are the conservatives back with the dup? Or are some nationalist coalitions allowed?
— Ben Woodward (@Sacro) August 20, 2021
Glad to see your coming to this with an open mind Douglas. With a declared climate emergency, all governments need to develop a green and sustainable perspective.
— Neil Cousland (@CouslandNeil) August 20, 2021
The point about a majority doesn't deserve a response coming from a Westminster MP whose party governs on 43% vote
Meanwhile, @ScotTories languish on the back benches since 1955.
— John (Freedom is normal) 🏴 (@johnd_uk) August 20, 2021
A Green MSP is expected to join the Scottish Government as part of the co-operation agreement based on a model used in New Zealand.
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