Borders MSP Christine Grahame has today criticised the group behind the Jimmy Savile float which was entered into Lauder Common Riding’s fancy dress.
Men from the Twenty10 Club dressed up as the disgraced TV presenter and schoolgirls during the parade on July 31, finishing third in the vehicle section but provoking outrage and an argument over free speech.
Ms Grahame, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP, said: “I am a great believer in free speech but I do think people have to be responsible and in my opinion this subject was in poor taste.
“While I’m sure those involved didn’t go out to deliberately offend anyone this was a very inappropriate topic for a family event.
“There may well have been a Savile victim in the crowd, a young person or an adult who is or has been the victim of sexual abuse.
“I wouldn’t want to censor anyone but I think this has been a serious misjudgement and hope the people involved are reflecting upon the offence their actions will have caused to many people.”