Hugh Gaffney Labour MP

[ronaldo7]

I'm surprised to see Mr Gaffney was caught out in his latest speech ranting about homophobic, and racist remarks. I would have thought he could have tempered his language given he was speaking to Labour students at a burns supper.

All this after, Anas, was reporting being abused by another of his party faithful.

It's good to see he's prepared to go through diversity training though.

Any Labour boys/girls from here attend the supper?

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42975528

[lord bunberry]

I'm surprised to see Mr Gaffney was caught out in his latest speech ranting about homophobic, and racist remarks. I would have thought he could have tempered his language given he was speaking to Labour students at a burns supper.

All this after, Anas, was reporting being abused by another of his party faithful.

It's good to see he's prepared to go through diversity training though.

Any Labour boys/girls from here attend the supper?

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42975528
He’s being reprimanded 4 days after making his speech. Nothing was said until the story appeared in the papers.

[hibsbollah]

So 'bent' and supposedly 'chinky' jokes or suchlike? Sounds like he's in a time warp.

[The Pointer]

Oh dear, how could he?

Mild, innocuous words, only one of which, 'bent' I would consider even slightly 'insulting', but hey, all words are not the same and some can be 'challenging'. The other 'chinky' is a normal word for a type of restaurant. It's not a term of abuse.

It's like calling someone a Jock, Taff, Mick, Yank, Aussie, Kiwi, Saffie and so on. In this country we've always made a habit of shortening names.

His only 'crime' was not appreciating the likely sensitivity of the audience.

The new puritanism.

[Pretty Boy]

Oh dear, how could he?

Mild, innocuous words, only one of which, 'bent' I would consider even slightly 'insulting', but hey, all words are not the same and some can be 'challenging'. The other 'chinky' is a normal word for a type of restaurant. It's not a term of abuse.

It's like calling someone a Jock, Taff, Mick, Yank, Aussie, Kiwi, Saffie and so on. In this country we've always made a habit of shortening names.

His only 'crime' was not appreciating the likely sensitivity of the audience.

The new puritanism.

Who decided it's not a term of abuse? You? A Chinese person? The speaker?

It's a derivavtive of the word 'chink' which some Chinese, or other south east Asians who usually get lazily thrown into the same bracket, would identify with as being perjorative.

In these instances I always ask the same question. What negative impact would it have on someones life to use the word Chinese instead of chinky? Or gay, homosexual etc rather than bent?

[--------]

Who decided it's not a term of abuse? You? A Chinese person? The speaker?

It's a derivavtive of the word 'chink' which some Chinese, or other south east Asians who usually get lazily thrown into the same bracket, would identify with as being perjorative.

In these instances I always ask the same question. What negative impact would it have on someones life to use the word Chinese instead of chinky? Or gay, homosexual etc rather than bent?


Apparently in the Scottish labour Party it's OK to call some a 'brown Muslim Paki' as well. It's only 'pub banter'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42862375


"Mild, innocuous words, only one of which, 'bent' I would consider even slightly 'insulting', but hey, all words are not the same and some can be 'challenging'. The other 'chinky' is a normal word for a type of restaurant. It's not a term of abuse.

It's like calling someone a Jock, Taff, Mick, Yank, Aussie, Kiwi, Saffie and so on. In this country we've always made a habit of shortening names.

His only 'crime' was not appreciating the likely sensitivity of the audience."


And I don't know where to begin with this. Please tell me you're not serious here. It's a wind-up, right?

It isn't?

What decade do you inhabit? Are you channelling Bernard Manning? Enoch Powell? Alf Garnett?

Or are you the last surviving Black and White Minstrel?

'Chinky' is a normal word for a type of restaurant? Where? Down at the Old BNP Club?

I have a number of Irish friends. I'll get them together and you can come along and find out just how delighted they are when some relic of the 1960's spends the evening calling them all 'Mick'.

'Bent' is only slightly insulting? Really?

I think I know where you're coming from - sorry - where you come from. And what you mean by 'this country'.

I so pray you're not a Scot.

[Future17]

Oh dear, how could he?

Mild, innocuous words, only one of which, 'bent' I would consider even slightly 'insulting', but hey, all words are not the same and some can be 'challenging'. The other 'chinky' is a normal word for a type of restaurant. It's not a term of abuse.

It's like calling someone a Jock, Taff, Mick, Yank, Aussie, Kiwi, Saffie and so on. In this country we've always made a habit of shortening names.

His only 'crime' was not appreciating the likely sensitivity of the audience.

The new puritanism.

You're at the wind up.

[--------]

You're at the wind up.


He'd better be.

[ronaldo7]

Oh dear, how could he?

Mild, innocuous words, only one of which, 'bent' I would consider even slightly 'insulting', but hey, all words are not the same and some can be 'challenging'. The other 'chinky' is a normal word for a type of restaurant. It's not a term of abuse.

It's like calling someone a Jock, Taff, Mick, Yank, Aussie, Kiwi, Saffie and so on. In this country we've always made a habit of shortening names.

His only 'crime' was not appreciating the likely sensitivity of the audience.

The new puritanism.

WOW.

When dinosaurs roamed the earth.

[Pete]

Any Labour boys/girls from here attend the supper?

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42975528

Nah mate, I was at an SNP funded event at the Tump towers in Turnburry.
;-)

[ronaldo7]

It looks like Hugh's been protected by his CLP.

https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/race-row-mp-hugh-gaffneys-labour-branch-tried-to-censure-anas-sarwar/

[IGRIGI]

Chinky and bent? 1992 called and wants it's racist/homophobic terms back.

[ronaldo7]

Nice to see labour have suspended their senior councillor for his islamaphobic abuse of Humza Yousaff.

I don't think they've come to a conclusion about Mr Gaffney.

[Colr]

Oh dear, how could he?

Mild, innocuous words, only one of which, 'bent' I would consider even slightly 'insulting', but hey, all words are not the same and some can be 'challenging'. The other 'chinky' is a normal word for a type of restaurant. It's not a term of abuse.

It's like calling someone a Jock, Taff, Mick, Yank, Aussie, Kiwi, Saffie and so on. In this country we've always made a habit of shortening names.

His only 'crime' was not appreciating the likely sensitivity of the audience.

The new puritanism.

Always interesting to hear the view from the 19th century. How’s the weather there? It’s snowing here.

[One Day Soon]

Wouldn't it be simpler to have one thread to contain all the dickheads from each of the parties. God knows there are plenty to go round...

[One Day Soon]

Chinky and bent? 1992 called and wants it's racist/homophobic terms back.


:agree:

[lucky]

Hugh was telling jokes in which he used words that are not acceptable but let’s remember before his election the guy was a postie and I suspect that the terminology used would be used everyday in his work place. However it’s still not acceptable. I’ve known Hugh for over 10 years and I know for a fact he’s not raciest or homophobic. He’s made a terrible error and will learn from it.

The councillor who made the comments about Humza Yousaf is wrong and should be punished by the party.

[hibsbollah]

Hugh was telling jokes in which he used words that are not acceptable but let’s remember before his election the guy was a postie and I suspect that the terminology used would be used everyday in his work place. However it’s still not acceptable. I’ve known Hugh for over 10 years and I know for a fact he’s not raciest or homophobic. He’s made a terrible error and will learn from it.

The councillor who made the comments about Humza Yousaf is wrong and should be punished by the party.

A girl I've known since school is Scottish with black parents and lives in Dumfries and is represented by that councillor. She's saying on social media that the Councillor, who is incidentally an active mason and Rangers fan, is representative of a lot of people in that town, where a sectarian banner is flying openly in the street without any interference. Labour has a responsibility to deal with him appropriately.

[ronaldo7]

Hugh was telling jokes in which he used words that are not acceptable but let’s remember before his election the guy was a postie and I suspect that the terminology used would be used everyday in his work place. However it’s still not acceptable. I’ve known Hugh for over 10 years and I know for a fact he’s not raciest or homophobic. He’s made a terrible error and will learn from it.

The councillor who made the comments about Humza Yousaf is wrong and should be punished by the party.

I believe he'd already gone through diversity training. It didn't seem to work then, why would it work now?

[lucky]

I believe he'd already gone through diversity training. It didn't seem to work then, why would it work now?

Just for a change you believe wrongly. Since he made the “jokes” he’s gone through the diversity training.
Using the word bent does not make someone homophobic but it’s silly for a MP to say such a thing. As for using “chinky”, whilst it’s still extremely common to do so, it’s wrong and he should have known better. He’s a working class guy who will learn from this experience but some of fake outrage from the Nats is a little nauseating. Their outrage is more about him winning the seat than anything else

[hibsbollah]

Just for a change you believe wrongly. Since he made the “jokes” he’s gone through the diversity training.
Using the word bent does not make someone homophobic but it’s silly for a MP to say such a thing. As for using “chinky”, whilst it’s still extremely common to do so, it’s wrong and he should have known better. He’s a working class guy who will learn from this experience but some of fake outrage from the Nats is a little nauseating. Their outrage is more about him winning the seat than anything else

Is 'chinky' commonplace? I haven't heard it for years (unlike the p word which I heard in the park the other day). And using the word 'bent' does, absolutely make you homophobic, you're wrong. Class has nothing to do with it.

[ronaldo7]

Just for a change you believe wrongly. Since he made the “jokes” he’s gone through the diversity training.
Using the word bent does not make someone homophobic but it’s silly for a MP to say such a thing. As for using “chinky”, whilst it’s still extremely common to do so, it’s wrong and he should have known better. He’s a working class guy who will learn from this experience but some of fake outrage from the Nats is a little nauseating. Their outrage is more about him winning the seat than anything else

I'm sure all the Chinese, and Gay posties would have thought that, just because he's a working class guy, it's all fine.

Jeezo.

I know your party is having difficulties at the moment regarding your leading councillors and Mp's but to use their class as the excuse is remarkable.

It's about time you come clean, and get them all out from under the carpet.

[One Day Soon]

Is 'chinky' commonplace? I haven't heard it for years (unlike the p word which I heard in the park the other day). And using the word 'bent' does, absolutely make you homophobic, you're wrong. Class has nothing to do with it.


Chinky is absolutely standard depending on where you're talking about. Fife (I know, I know) for example. I haven't heard Paki, poof or bent in literally years - thankfully.

I assume Chinky is used as an abbreviation of Chinese in a food context because I'm not sure I've ever heard it used with intent as a term of abuse whereas I certainly have with the others and many more besides. I absolutely ****ing hate encountering racism - a pathetically miserable diminishing mindset. I was subject to a fair bit of it in my youth by other kids parroting what they were hearing and living at home. That was until an actual Indian family arrived at our school at which point all the attention transferred to them. So Wop and Dago are terms that have gotten me into a bit of trouble in the past, whereas Eytie has never bothered me in the slightest.

Then there are other terms like gay which seem to be interchangeably capable of being used in both an affirmative and derogatory manner depending on the context, intent and person using the term. In fact ****** seems to fall into that category too.

All of the above seem to me to be pretty straightforward for anyone white and straight not to screw up with.

Twitter however is slowly making me increasingly aware of another set of descriptors relating to gender identification where I am a lot less sure. It appears to be possible to cause offence not only without trying but even while trying to make very sure you don't. That debate looks like an irreconcilable difference between the two sides where no accommodation in the middle is possible. But I guess I'm heading well off topic with that.

[One Day Soon]

I'm sure all the Chinese, and Gay posties would have thought that, just because he's a working class guy, it's all fine.

Jeezo.

I know your party is having difficulties at the moment regarding your leading councillors and Mp's but to use their class as the excuse is remarkable.

It's about time you come clean, and get them all out from under the carpet.


Are you seriously suggesting this is a single party issue? We'd be here all day if we started listing the MPs, MSPs, Councillors, Party office holders and ordinary Party members from each of the main political parties who have been found to be racist, misogynist, homophobic, criminal etc.

In this case its a Gaffney issue, in the broader context surely its a series of societal issues rather than something restricted to any one political party?

[lucky]

I’m not defending HGs comments but trying to give some context to them. I agree there is a problem in society with very day racism. But even on here it’s not totally PC. Look at this board there are sexist comments on it, users calling each other wee lassies, girls blouse etc etc. As I’ve said I’ve known Hughie a long time through his work with the Keir Hardie society and his involvement in the CWU and I can guarantee he is not racist or homophobic in anyway. As I’ve said his comments were wrong but if the Nats think this just a Labour problem then they are even more deluded than I previously thought. Just a quick trawel through some of the Nat social media sites/posts especially around the referendum shows a high level of anti English posts and a lot of hate towards the English

[marinello59]

Are you seriously suggesting this is a single party issue? We'd be here all day if we started listing the MPs, MSPs, Councillors, Party office holders and ordinary Party members from each of the main political parties who have been found to be racist, misogynist, homophobic, criminal etc.

In this case its a Gaffney issue, in the broader context surely its a series of societal issues rather than something restricted to any one political party?

Spot on.

[Pretty Boy]

Are you seriously suggesting this is a single party issue? We'd be here all day if we started listing the MPs, MSPs, Councillors, Party office holders and ordinary Party members from each of the main political parties who have been found to be racist, misogynist, homophobic, criminal etc.

In this case its a Gaffney issue, in the broader context surely its a series of societal issues rather than something restricted to any one political party?

Excellently put.

In modern Scotland I'd like to think the scourge of racism, homophobia, sectarianism and so on are not reduced to a sideshow of partisan point scoring.

[ronaldo7]

Are you seriously suggesting this is a single party issue? We'd be here all day if we started listing the MPs, MSPs, Councillors, Party office holders and ordinary Party members from each of the main political parties who have been found to be racist, misogynist, homophobic, criminal etc.

In this case its a Gaffney issue, in the broader context surely its a series of societal issues rather than something restricted to any one political party?

Nope, I was asking a Labour party member if he thought the diversity training would work this time. His answer, above seems to say it's about his working class roots.:rolleyes:

We are on a thread about Mr Gaffney, and I'm sure "All" parties have skeletons in the cupboard, as has been seen with the recent problems with an ex SNP minister.

I've just watched the Sunday politics in which Humza and Anas acquitted themselves very well on the issue. I hope Anas can get some of the dinosaurs in his party to either change or be expelled.

[lucky]

Your attempting to point score over an MP using two words but failed to answer about Mark McDonalds behaviour on the SNP thread. HG was wrong and has acknowledged that. Any comments on McDonalds behaviour?

[Hiber-nation]

Some folk are so blinkered. If they can't see past their own party I'll keep ignoring them.

[Just Alf]

Some folk are so blinkered. If they can't see past their own party I'll keep ignoring them.You are spot on... It then takes away from those posts where they might have a decent point to make.



Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

[ronaldo7]

Your attempting to point score over an MP using two words but failed to answer about Mark McDonalds behaviour on the SNP thread. HG was wrong and has acknowledged that. Any comments on McDonalds behaviour?

McDonald's behavior was reprehensible, and hence he had to leave the Snp before he was pushed. The senior labour councillor, has been dealt with correctly imo, however Gaffneys handling by Richard Leonard leaves a lot to be desired.

Neither wonder Anas sarwar was disappointed.

[lucky]

McDonald's behavior was reprehensible, and hence he had to leave the Snp before he was pushed. The senior labour councillor, has been dealt with correctly imo, however Gaffneys handling by Richard Leonard leaves a lot to be desired.

Neither wonder Anas sarwar was disappointed.

Sarwar was not at all disappointed in the handling of it, I spoke to him last week about it, he just dissatisfied that there are still people that need to learn that all of us are equal and need educated. He knows that Hughie is not racist and said so.

[ronaldo7]

Diversity training, will it work. Haven't the party got rules on equality. Some questions this journo has asked.

"As elected representatives, they have will been made well aware, time and again, of the importance of equality and respect. How, if at all, will their current programme of education differ from the equality guidelines laid down by their party and employers? Scottish Labour has not made that clear. It should."

Read more at: https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/martyn-mclaughlin-diversity-training-doesn-t-cure-racism-1-4709556

[Mr Grieves]

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/labour-racism-row-councillor-accused-12228722

Awful. Surely they'll get rid of him?

[Pretty Boy]

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/labour-racism-row-councillor-accused-12228722

Awful. Surely they'll get rid of him?

I'm wary that this is descending into another case of trial by media.

The accusations regarding recent comments are very serious and should be investigated and dealt with. These new allegations are just that though, allegations. What we have to go on is an anonymous allegation, a denial and the inevitable verdict from print and social media. Racism, sectarianism, homophobia, misogyny and so on and so forth are all far too serious for a media and a public who scent blood to be left as judge, jury and executioner.

I think his position is untenable anyway but any claims of such a nature should be investigated fully for the benefit of both the accuser and the accused.

[ronaldo7]

I seems that wee Hughie received a wedge from the CWU a couple of days after his racist comments back in January. The CWU (his union) has backed him to the tune of £3,000, and Richard Leonard received £5,000 for his leadership contest against Anas Sarwar.

Payments are all above board though.

Hopefully the Labour party in Scotland can get to the bottom of this debacle.

https://t.co/2n5RNRT870