A BOXER has deleted a post branding Scotland under the SNP government a “fascist state”, but insists he stands by his comment.
Josh Taylor, the world’s undisputed light-welterweight champion, took to social media late on Monday to share a clip from GB News’s Dan Wootton and attack the Holyrood government.
Taylor posted a widely-shared clip of patrons being removed from Glasgow’s Avant Garde bar on Hogmanay by police.
Two people have been arrested for allegedly assaulting and abusing police officers on the night in question.
READ MORE: Hogmanay: Arrests as police shut Scots bar minutes before the bells
Meanwhile the licence holder of the premises was charged with obstructing police and allegedly refusing to provide relevant documents.
Critics of the Scottish Government have implied the incident related to coronavirus rules – but Police Scotland have said this is not the case.
A spokesperson said: “Officers carried out a routine visit at a licensed premises on King Street, Glasgow around 11.30pm on Friday 31 December 21.
“No arrests were made in relation to Covid guidelines.”
They added: “No complaints have been received so far regarding officers conduct, if any member of the public wishes to make a complaint against an officer they can call 101 or complete a form on our website.”
In his GB News monologue, Wootton said the incident was “Sturgeon’s fault for introducing such authoritarian laws”, and claimed “Sturgeon is criminalising people drinking and having a good time”.
Taylor, who has previously promoted anti-vaccine views on his social media, added: "Fascist state scotland under sturgeons [sic] SNP. What a terrible state of affairs.”
He later deleted his comment following backlash, but in one reply to a critic said: “Still stand by what I said. Can’t be a**d with all the t***s like you, night night.”
The former first minister accused the broadcaster of being “anti-Scottish working class” and claimed the snub had made the BBC a “laughing stock in Scotland”.
He added: "You can only conclude that the BBC is displaying an anti-Scottish working [class] stance because becoming the UK’s first undisputed world champion in the modern era beats all the other achievements on the shortlist combined.”
Taylor himself also suggested the BBC could “shove yer SPOTY right up a***” after not being featured on the shortlist.
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