THE Glasgow City Council leader has called on Scottish Government to give her more power to tackle Orange Walks. Susan Aitken spoke out following the uproar caused by a vile attack on a priest as an Orange Walk passed his church. 4 An online petition has called for Orange Walks to be banned Credit: PA:Press Association 4 The Glasgow City Council leader has asked for more power for local authorities An online petition calling for Orange parades to be banned in the city gathered more than 75,000 signatures after Canon Tom White was ‘spat at, struck with a baton and pelted with verbal abuse’ outside St Alphonsus Church. Glasgow City Council met with police to discuss possible action but admitted they could not act on the petition as it failed to meet council criteria. But Miss Aitken has now called on the Scottish Parliament to look at the issue and tighten up legislation. She wrote on Twitter: "Some points about parades: I share the revulsion at the hate crime committed against Canon White & have strong sympathy with the petition but the council simply does NOT have the power to enact a blanket ban on parades by any organisation. "I have instructed officers to ensure that we use the powers we do have to their fullest extent & have asked Police Scotland colleagues to assist us in doing that. The council can’t legally act without grounds being given to us by the police. "I've also asked for ways of objecting to planned parades to be made much more prominent on our website and made available through the My Glasgow app. "We can only act on objections made in advance, on specific applications & on grounds in 2006 Act. "I will ensure Glasgow City Council does everything in our power to respond to the strength of feeling this petition demonstrates - but it would actually be better directed at MSPs, who have much more power than councils here. 4 The council previously admitted they could not act on the petition Credit: PA:Press Association "They could strengthen the 2006 Act that governs us. I would urge MSPs to consider their own powers and responsibilities. "Confusion among the public about who can do what is entirely understandable. Parliamentarians should be better informed about their role and assist councils in providing clarity. "We are all governed by European human rights legislation which protects the right to free assembly, even for people we disagree with. "I believe in and support that right. But I will do what I can within the powers GCC has to ensure that right is no longer abused in our city." 4 March officials insisted the attacker was not a member of the parade Credit: PA:Press Association Earlier this week it was revealed police were questioning marchers in a bid to track down the thug who spat on Canon White. March officials insisted he was not a member of the parade and have condemned “the bigoted actions of those involved” in Saturday’s attack. The Parish Pastoral Councils of St Mary’s and St Alphonsus’ have called on Glasgow City Council to review the routes of three upcoming Orange Order parades which are currently scheduled to pass the churches later this month and in August. 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Mum's screams as baby 'slipped under duvet and died while sleeping with parents' Another petition Defend Our Right to March has also attracted thousands of signatures. Police are working to identify those involved in the attack and are trying to trace a man aged between 20 and 30 with a shaved head. We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5200<doc-sep>Join thousands of others and get the latest Scottish crime and courts news sent straight to your inbox with our daily Criminal Record newsletter. Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Council chiefs are to hold crunch talks over the future of Orange Order marches after thousands of people reacted with fury to a sectarian attack on a priest. Glasgow City Council are to review their procedures surrounding the parades after Canon Thomas White, 43, was spat on, verbally abused and threatened with a baton as the parade passed St Alphonsus Church in the city’s Calton on Saturday. Worshippers were also targeted. A petition to ban the processions smashed its 15,000 signature target within hours yesterday, while the council had also received scores of email complaints. (Image: DAILY RECORD) In a statement, the council said: “We utterly condemn this appalling behaviour and urge anyone with any information on the incident to contact the police. “A meeting with council officers will be held this week as it’s perhaps time to review our procedures in light of a number of factors. "We will also continue to liaise with Police Scotland, organisers, the Scottish Government, third parties and stakeholders as part of the council’s processions’ code of contact. (Image: PA) “Our aim is always to strike a reasonable balance between protecting the fundamental right of individuals and organisations to organise and participate in public processions, and the need to minimise disruption to the wider community by protecting the rights of all of Glasgow’s citizens to go about their business without unnecessary disturbance and interference.” The incident sparked an outpouring of support for Canon White from members of the public and politicians, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The Orange Order condemned the “bigoted” attack, insisting none of their members were involved. The Scottish Government said they were determined to protect the Scottish public from such incidents. (Image: DAILY RECORD) But Anthony Horan, director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office, said: “The Scottish Government continues to be reticent about the deep rooted anti-Catholic problem of modern Scotland – a Scotland it claims is tolerant, diverse, inclusive and progressive.” Police were continuing to hunt those responsible for the attack. Superintendent John McBride said: “The public can be assured we remain committed to ridding our country of hate crime and the bigots within it who think they won’t be held to account for their actions. I can tell you they will.”<doc-sep>
An online petition calling for an end to Orange Order marches in Glasgow will not be reviewed by the city council, despite attracting thousands of signatures. More than 75,000 people signed the form in just four days, calling on Glasgow City Council to ban what campaigners call an "outdated and repressive display". The petition was set up on the back of the news that a priest, 43-year-old Canon Thomas White, was spat on and verbally abused outside St Alphonsus Church as the processions made their way through Glasgow on Saturday. Police are treating the incident as a hate crime. But the council have now revealed that they cannot consider the signatures, because the petition does not meet their strict criteria. (Image: PA) The Orange Order insist no members of the parade were involved in the incident and condemned the “bigoted” attack . However, the Parish Pastoral Councils of St Mary’s and St Alphonsus have called for a review the routes of three upcoming Orange Order parades. They said: “While we welcome the statement by the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, condemning the assaults on Canon Tom, as a community we are distressed and deeply saddened that, in the 21st century, we are unable to exercise human rights of freedom of association, freedom of assembly and the right to celebrate our faith in public, free from intimidation and violence.” (Image: DAILY RECORD) A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: "We have a petitions process which allows Glasgow citizens to raise issues of local concern directly with the council. "Any petition must meet the eligibility criteria agreed by the council before it can be considered. "The eligibility criteria includes ensuring that it is only Glasgow residents or businesses who are signatories to a petition and that the petitioner has already taken steps to raise the issue of concern with elected members or the relevant council department in the first instance. "The council's job in relation to public processions is to manage the process within the legislation set by the Scottish Parliament and to work with the police and organisers to try and mitigate against potential risks or disturbances."