Attacks on new SNP MP 'outrageous', says her predecessor
Stephen Gethins said Lara Bird was an ‘upgrade’ as MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry and criticised those who ‘resort to personal attacks’
The abuse that the SNP’s newest MP has received is “outrageous”, her predecessor has said.
Stephen Gethins said Lara Bird was an “upgrade” as MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry and criticised those who “resort to personal attacks”.
He was speaking on a visit to Cruachan Power Station in the Highlands, alongside UK Labour minister Michael Shanks.
Ms Bird has faced abuse since she took over from Mr Gethins as MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry in June.
She has been criticised for previous videos appearing to show her speaking with an English accent, when she now speaks with a Scottish one.
Ms Bird was also attacked for crossing her fingers while taking an oath of allegiance to the King when she was sworn into Parliament.
She also came under fire for saying live on the BBC that she supported whoever England were playing against at the World Cup, and for celebrating England’s semi-final defeat with a Scottish Labour MP in a House of Commons bar.
Her social media videos, which are often shared by SNP accounts, have received hundreds of abusive comments.
When it was mentioned that Ms Bird had been heavily attacked online, Mr Gethins said: “She has.”
In response to comments about her accent, he said: “Oh for goodness sake, about her accent. I think they were outrageous.”
He continued: “I've been involved in politics for a while. I'm on social media. I've had my fair share of threats and abuse on social media.
“I think that's not restricted to one party, but I have to say my experience is that women get it much much worse.
“If you have to resort to personal attacks on people with whom you disagree, maybe something's the matter with you, rather than the person that you're attacking.
“I think Michael [Shanks] and I are reflective of this. You can disagree, and that's the stuff of democracy and politics. But there is no room for abuse.”
Paying tribute to Ms Bird, he added: “I think Lara's done a fantastic job. I think she's been a credit and an asset.
“Bluntly, I think the people of Arbroath and Broughton Ferry have had an upgrade on their previous MP.
“They're very lucky in that. But if you want to encourage more people into politics, regardless of what they think, if you're personally attacking people, maybe there's something wrong with your arguments rather than your that's more of a reflection on you.
“I think Lara's doing a brilliant job.”
Ms Bird, 28, had worked for the SNP as a policy researcher and advisor prior to her election.
She is not the first Nationalist MP to cross their fingers while making an oath to the monarch.
Former Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill Steven Bonnar MP did the same when he was sworn into the Commons in 2019.
During the ceremony, MPs swear an oath to the monarch, their heirs and successors. It is a legal requirement for all new Members of Parliament.
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