Police Scotland have been accused of ‘arresting people for making jokes’ after a man was charged over an alleged social media post inviting revellers to a Hogmanay party at the home of Nicola Sturgeon.
More than 1,000 people responded to the hoax Facebook message about a bash at the First Minister’s address near Glasgow.
The page, titled ‘NYE street party @ Sturgeon’s house’, claimed it would be ‘bringing the celebrations to Sturgeon’s’ after the SNP leader imposed fresh Covid curbs this week that ‘cancelled’ mass Hogmanay celebrations.
According to police, a man aged 33 was taken into custody at Hamilton’s home last night. The man was eventually released, and he is expected to be at Hamilton Sheriff Court next year.
The event and the man who allegedly set up the page were reported to police by Ms Sturgeon’s sister Gillian.
However, the anti-Sturgeon backlash has been sparked by the arrest and charging of the man.
One Twitter user claimed ‘Scotland is rapidly sliding towards a very worrying form of authoritarianism’, while another mused: ‘Arresting people for making jokes now are we? Christ’.
Police Scotland have been accused of ‘arresting people for making jokes’ after a man was charged over an alleged social media post inviting revellers to a Hogmanay party at the home of Nicola Sturgeon
One Twitter user claimed ‘Scotland is rapidly sliding towards a very worrying form of authoritarianism’, while another mused: ‘Arresting people for making jokes now are we?’
Nearly 2,000 people are said to have responded to the hoax Facebook message about a bash at the First Minister’s address near Glasgow
Another said: ‘She (Ms Sturgeon) really does hate to see any of us try to have some fun’.
A third added: ‘Charged for organising a party. Even North Korea would think that was going too far’.
Others praised the man who set up the event, calling him a ‘legend’.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘A 33-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with communications offences. He has been released on undertaking to appear at court at a later date.’
The First Minister is facing a considerable backlash over her latest restrictions, which will effectively ban football fans from games, large New Year’s Eve celebrations, limiting pubs to table service only, and shutting nightclubs.
She will take effect on Boxing Day. Her measures are likely to be effective for three weeks, as Omicron puts the country in crisis.
Hospitality leaders called the shutdown measures ‘another hammer blow for employers and Scotland’s economy’.
A crowd of young football fans at a Hibernian v Aberdeen match this week were filmed chanting ‘Sturgeon, get tae f***’. Others at the game held a banner saying ‘open your homes for Cop26, closed doors for fans, f*** SNP’.
Others held a banner saying ‘open your homes for Cop26 , closed doors for fans, f*** SNP’
An employee in hospitality carries customers’ orders to their outdoor tables. April 26, 2021
Ms. Sturgeon disclosed Tuesday that nine deaths had occurred and 5242 positive test results were available in the last 24 hours.
Gillian, Ms Sturgeon’s sister, told The Sun that Gillian shared her sister’s address on social media. This was to mark the New Year celebration.
Police have been informed that your name has been given to the police. This is in case you’re reading it. You are probably in for a wonderful Christmas.
Similar measures were also introduced in Wales, despite studies showing Omicron may be less dangerous than other variants.
They are quite different from the England approach, in which Sajid Javid celebrated the new data showing that Omicron was at a lower risk for overnight hospitalizations than any other variants.
The Health Secretary said that there would not be any new restrictions in England for at least the next week.