Backlash as man, 33, is charged over Facebook ‘Hogmanay party at Sturgeon’s house’ post
‘We’re arresting people for making jokes now?’ Backlash as man, 33, is charged after 2,000 people sign up on Facebook for ‘Hogmanay party at Nicola Sturgeon’s house’
- Police Scotland have been accused of ‘arresting people for making jokes’
- Man, 33, charged over alleged social media post inviting revellers to party
- The page claimed it would be ‘bringing the celebrations to Sturgeon’s’
- The proposed party was reported to officers by the First Minister’s sister, Gillian
- It comes amid business fury over Ms Sturgeon’s fresh Covid restrictions
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.
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.
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.
It is understood that police detained a 33-year-old man at his home in Hamilton last night. He was later released and is due to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court next month.
The event and the man who allegedly set up the page were reported to police by Ms Sturgeon’s sister Gillian.
But the decision to arrest and charge the man has sparked an anti-Sturgeon backlash on social media.
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.
Her measures will come into force from Boxing Day and are expected to last at least three weeks as Omicron plunges the country into 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’
A hospitality worker carries a customers’ drinks order to their outside tables on April 26, 2021
On Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon revealed there had been nine new deaths and 5,242 positive tests in the previous 24 hours.
Ms Sturgeon’s sister Gillian told The Sun: ‘My sister’s personal address now shared all over social media as an event for a New Year party.
‘Police been informed with your name. In case you are reading this. Looks like you are in for a Merry Christmas.’
Similar measures have been introduced in Wales as well, despite the release of studies suggesting Omicron is less likely to lead to serious illness than previous variants.
Their approach contrasts with that taken in England, where Sajid Javid hailed the ‘reassuring’ new data that suggested Omicron presented a 40 per cent lower risk of overnight hospital admissions than other variants.
The Health Secretary also confirmed no new restrictions would be announced in England until at least next week.
