Senior Labour official accused of being ‘anti-Catholic’ in a conference row
NEC chair Andy Kerr appeared to mock a female delegate at party conference in Liverpool when inviting her to pose a question
LABOUR was hit by a new religious row yesterday as the chair of its ruling body was accused of being “anti-Catholic”.
NEC chair Andy Kerr appeared to mock a female delegate at party conference in Liverpool when inviting her to pose a question.
Speaking from the stage, Mr Kerr said: “Did you cross yourself there? In that case, I might not.”
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard condemned his party – and the SNP demanded Mr Kerr quit.
Asked if it was bigoted, Mr Leonard told the BBC: “That might be one way of describing it.
"There is absolutely no room inside the Labour Party for that kind of remark, whether it's meant as a form of humour or not.”
Mr Kerr, a deputy general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, later apologised and said the remark was intended to be "light-hearted" but was "ill-judged and wrong".
But the SNP has said he should not continue in his current position in the party.
A party spokeswoman said: "Sectarianism is an extremely serious issue and it is important that Labour treats it as such.
"It is untenable for Andy Kerr to continue as chairman of Labour's NEC - he should go as a matter of urgency.
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"Labour are developing a bad habit of trying to brush this kind of behaviour under the rug."
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called for cross-party condemnation of Mr Kerr's comment. She tweeted: "Andy Kerr's comment was appalling.
The Catholic community is an integral and valued part of Scottish life.
"Everyone who stands for a Scotland where bigotry and sectarianism have no place, and where we positively embrace diversity, must unite to condemn - regardless of party."
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