A GLASGOW Labour MSP is seeking support from other parties for his bid to scrap the controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

James Kelly is moving his final proposal to scrap the Act to formally lodge the plans at the Scottish Parliament.

He needs 18 MSPs from at least three parties for it to be introduced as a Member’s Bill and have a chance of becoming a reality.

The Conservatives, Lib Dems and Greens are also in favour of scrapping the Act and if they chose to back Mr Kelly’s bid the SNP could be outvoted in the parliament.

He said the response to his consultation was overwhelmingly in favour of repeal of the act.

The MSP said there was 3,248 responses from all across Scotland and the UK, including from football clubs, supporters groups, campaigning organisations and members of the public.

He said the results were 71.12% of respondents were fully supportive of repealing the ‘Offensive Behaviour’ section of the law compared to only 24.48% fully opposed to its scrapping.

On section two, regarding repealing the ‘Threatening Communications’ section, he said 62.1% were in support compared to 21.21% opposed.

Mr Kelly said: “We have seen overwhelming public support to repeal the SNP Football Act, now the next step is a formal proposal in Holyrood.

“The SNP government was unbelievably arrogant to bulldoze this Football Act through the Scottish Parliament in the first place. Every other party opposed it and now parties can come together to repeal it.”

While the Act has come in for criticism from opponents, many football fans and some in the legal profession, the SNP has consistently defended the law stating that to scrap it would send out a message that sectarianism is acceptable and has criticised Labour for not producing an alternative strategy.

Mr Kelly called on the Scottish Government to admit the Act was a mistake and repeal it.

He added: “The SNP doesn’t have a majority in parliament, it has already lost a vote on the future of the Football Act, and it would be a symbolic gesture if SNP MSPs were amongst the first to support my proposal.

“If the SNP recognises that it got it wrong, parliament could unanimously repeal this law and focus on tackling sectarianism where it really matters – in our classrooms and communities.”

The move to scrap the Act has the backing of the Conservatives.

Douglas Ross, justice spokesman said: “It’s time this act was scrapped.

“It’s unnecessary, fans hate it and it’s been proved unworkable in Scotland’s court rooms.

“The SNP railroaded this through when every other party was against it and the legal profession raised serious concerns about it.”