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Police investigate Alex Salmond bonfire effigy | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Police are investigating a complaint about effigies of Alex Salmond which were due to have been burnt at bonfire celebrations in an English town. | |
The two effigies of the Scottish first minister were withdrawn from the celebrations in Lewes after a storm of protest on social media. | |
Thousands of people attended the bonfire event in the East Sussex town. | |
The Waterloo Bonfire Society, which produced one of the models, said it had "no wish or intention to offend". | The Waterloo Bonfire Society, which produced one of the models, said it had "no wish or intention to offend". |
A Sussex Police statement said: "We are aware of the portrayal of Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond as an effigy at the 2014 Lewes Bonfire event and acknowledge that concerns have been raised. | |
"Whilst we accept there is a long tradition of creating effigies of high-profile individuals in politics, sport, the media, etc, a complaint has nevertheless been received and will be investigated." | |
The row began on Wednesday afternoon when East Sussex County Council tweeted a picture of one of the effigies of Mr Salmond, complete with a "Yes" badge, a sign saying "45%" and the Loch Ness monster looking over his shoulder. | |
They faced an immediate backlash on Twitter with one user responding: "Can you imagine the uproar amongst Better Together campaigners had Yes supporters burned an effigy of David Cameron?" | They faced an immediate backlash on Twitter with one user responding: "Can you imagine the uproar amongst Better Together campaigners had Yes supporters burned an effigy of David Cameron?" |
Others posted the council's switchboard telephone number, and urged people to complain. | Others posted the council's switchboard telephone number, and urged people to complain. |
The council later clarified: "Please note that the Alex Salmond and Nessie models were created by Waterloo Bonfire Society #LewesBonfire and have NO connection to ESCC". The original tweet was removed. | The council later clarified: "Please note that the Alex Salmond and Nessie models were created by Waterloo Bonfire Society #LewesBonfire and have NO connection to ESCC". The original tweet was removed. |
Mr Salmond responded to the initial tweet by telling BBC Scotland he was "used to insults from Tories in East Sussex". | Mr Salmond responded to the initial tweet by telling BBC Scotland he was "used to insults from Tories in East Sussex". |
He questioned the judgement of those behind the effigy. | He questioned the judgement of those behind the effigy. |
But Mr Salmond, who will stand down as first minister and Scottish National Party leader next week, said he was more worried about Nessie, who was also to be burned. | But Mr Salmond, who will stand down as first minister and Scottish National Party leader next week, said he was more worried about Nessie, who was also to be burned. |
Just before 21:00 on Wednesday, Sussex Police tweeted: "For those enquiring we have been advised that there won't be any burning of the Alex Salmond effigies this evening in Lewes." | Just before 21:00 on Wednesday, Sussex Police tweeted: "For those enquiring we have been advised that there won't be any burning of the Alex Salmond effigies this evening in Lewes." |
In a statement, the Waterloo Bonfire Society said it had a "tradition of creating satirical tableaux in caricature based on topical local, national and international events". | In a statement, the Waterloo Bonfire Society said it had a "tradition of creating satirical tableaux in caricature based on topical local, national and international events". |
It said: "It is a tradition which has endured for many years and is intended to portray familiar stories and characters in a light hearted way. Clearly the Scottish Referendum has been a big story in the news recently and Alex Salmond is high a profile figure. | It said: "It is a tradition which has endured for many years and is intended to portray familiar stories and characters in a light hearted way. Clearly the Scottish Referendum has been a big story in the news recently and Alex Salmond is high a profile figure. |
"We are a traditional Sussex family bonfire society and have no political affiliations. We can assure that we have no wish or intention to offend and have never found ourselves in a position where we have done so in the past. To clarify we do not burn tableaux. They are incorporated into our firework display. | "We are a traditional Sussex family bonfire society and have no political affiliations. We can assure that we have no wish or intention to offend and have never found ourselves in a position where we have done so in the past. To clarify we do not burn tableaux. They are incorporated into our firework display. |
"In the light of the responses received to our tableau idea this year we have made the decision to withdraw it from our celebrations." | "In the light of the responses received to our tableau idea this year we have made the decision to withdraw it from our celebrations." |
The Waterloo Bonfire Society is one of six which parade through the town every year. The societies all have their traditions, costumes, fire sites and fireworks. A second effigy of Mr Salmond was paraded through the Sussex town. by another bonfire society - the Commercial Square Bonfire Society. | The Waterloo Bonfire Society is one of six which parade through the town every year. The societies all have their traditions, costumes, fire sites and fireworks. A second effigy of Mr Salmond was paraded through the Sussex town. by another bonfire society - the Commercial Square Bonfire Society. |
An effigy of David Cameron holding a "puppet Nick Clegg" was burned in Lewes in 2010. Other effigies in previous years have included Osama Bin Laden. | An effigy of David Cameron holding a "puppet Nick Clegg" was burned in Lewes in 2010. Other effigies in previous years have included Osama Bin Laden. |
The event is said to be one of the largest bonfire celebrations in the UK, with 45,000 people attending. | The event is said to be one of the largest bonfire celebrations in the UK, with 45,000 people attending. |