Yesterday, Lothian MSP, and Scottish Greens Co-leader, Lorna Slater joined the overwhelming majority of MSPs in voting to oppose the cruel Tory £20 cut to universal credit that is being inflicted by Westminster.
The cut will impact tens of thousands of families in Lothian, cutting their income by £1,040 per year.
Lothian MSP and Scottish Greens Co-leader Lorna Slater said:“The Tories have shown their true colours. This is one of the biggest social security cuts ever seen in this country and could plunge tens of thousands of families in Lothian into despair.
“It is particularly unwelcome at a time when so many people are still struggling with the impact of the pandemic.
“£20 a week may not be a lot to the Prime Minister and his colleagues, but for far too many families it is crucial to their budgeting and their wellbeing. For many people across this city, it could be the difference between a warm home and a cold one this winter
“Many people claiming universal credit are in fact in work. The so-called uplift was not an act of generosity, but an admission of failure – an admission that the system had been so damaged by cuts that it was no longer able to provide adequate support for people needing help with their incomes for reasons beyond their control.
“The cut is symbolic of a UK government that knows the price of some things but the value of nothing. It shows why Scotland needs the powers to chart a different path that prioritises human need and builds a fairer, greener recovery for all.”
Holyrood Social Security Minister, Edinburgh Northern & Leith MSP Ben Macpherson, closed yesterday’s debate:
The programme for Holyrood’s Opening Ceremony, taking place on Saturday (2nd October), has been announced.
The event will formally mark the beginning of the sixth session of the Parliament, with Her Majesty The Queen addressing the Debating Chamber, accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay.
The Royal Conservatoire Brass will perform Fanfare for the Opening of Parliament 2021 composed by John Wallace CBE and conducted by John Logan as The Queen enters the Chamber.
The Scottish Parliament’s Mace, followed by the Officers of Arms, The Crown of Scotland borne by the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, escorted by the Lord Lyon King of Arms and the Captain-General will process into the Chamber.
The event, which will be broadcast live, will begin with opening remarks from the Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP, followed by an address by Her Majesty The Queen.
Music will then be performed from Orin Simpson on the flute and Seoras Chlad on the guitar from the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music. Followed by a song from Musicians in Exile, Always on the Move.
The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, will then have an opportunity to address the Chamber.
Following this Ae Fond Kiss by Robert Burns and Kirn Street by Michael Biggins will be performed by Michael Biggins, BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2021.
The newly appointed Scots Makar Kathleen Jamie will then perform a specially commissioned piece.
The song, We Hold The Future will be performed by the National Youth Choir of Scotland.
For the departure of The Queen, Farewell to the Creeks will be performed by the Scottish Parliament’s Piper Stuart McMillan MSP from the Members’ Garden.
The event will be streamed live on the Scottish Parliament’s Facebook channel and on our SPTV channel.
The live broadcast will begin from 10.30am on Saturday 2 October.
Women Speak Scotland, as part of a coalition of 14 Scottish grassroots feminist and women’s rights organisations, have called on the Scottish Parliament to reject the Scottish Government’s proposed reform of the Gender Recognition Act.
Our joint statement, sent to all 129 MSPs, sets out our principled objections to the proposed legislation in its current form.
The First Minister has offered an assurance that this new legislation will “not … remove any of the legal protections women currently have”.
We welcome this commitment to women’s sex-based rights.
However, we believe the central feature of the proposed Bill – the introduction of sex self-identification – is incompatible with retaining women’s existing rights and protections under the Equality Act.
We use the term sex self-ID rather than gender self-ID because the most significant aspect of obtaining a gender recognition certificate (GRC) is that it allows people to engage in the legal fiction that they have become a member of the opposite sex, despite the biological impossibility of such an action.
Sex self-ID contributes to widespread confusion that makes it increasingly difficult to name, identify or define women or to protect any single-sex spaces, including hospital wards, prisons, youth hostels and changing rooms, sports, awards and women-only shortlists.
We ask the Scottish Government to drop its plans to introduce sex self-ID and to ensure its commitment to women is kept by:
Ensuring women’s voices and experiences are heard and inform any legislative change;
Ensuring protections for women on the basis of our sex are strengthened and not weakened by any changes to legislation;
Maintaining single-sex spaces for the dignity, privacy, physical, emotional and psychological safety of women and girls;
Guaranteeing the human rights of women, including those to freedom of speech and assembly, are not adversely affected by legislative change.
We ask all MSPs to vote against the proposed Bill because of its hugely detrimental impact on women’s rights to safe single-sex spaces and freedom of speech.
Signatories Frontline Feminists Scotland Women Speak Scotland Sole Sisters Women Matter Keep Prisons Single Sex Liberal Voice for Women Yes Women’s Pledge Labour Women’s Declaration Conservatives For Women Independence for Scotland Party (ISP) Brodie’s Trust Audacious Women Festival National Network of Scottish Feminists Women’s Human Rights Campaign (Scotland)
MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee are to examine all areas of the Scottish Government’s criminal justice budget in the coming weeks, and consider whether the current funding patterns are sustainable, effective and achieving good outcomes.
Ahead of making recommendations to the Scottish Government on how it spends money on justice services, the Committee is looking to hear opinions on funding for bodies such as prisons, courts, police, fire and rescue, victim support and community justice initiatives.
It will also consider whether funding is in place to support the sector to recover from Covid, and whether any of the changes brought in to help cope with the pandemic may lead to longer term savings, if those were desirable and made permanent.
Speaking as the call for views was launched, Criminal Justice Committee Convener, Audrey Nicoll MSP, said:“Criminal Justice services play a crucial role in keeping Scotland safe, supporting complainers and victims of crime, working to rehabilitate offenders, and diverting people who are at risk of doing wrong.
“Our Committee wants to take a wide look at the funding for these services – public and voluntary – and examine whether what we have in place supports the justice system to do what we ask of it.
“It goes without saying that we will need to consider the impact of Covid-19 on the justice sector’s budgets.
“We asked a great deal of those working on the frontline and administering justice throughout the pandemic.
“And while there may be savings from some of the new ways of working, overall, the sector will need a lot of help to recover from the pandemic – for instance, to deal with the huge backlog of trials.”
• Whether the Scottish Government is providing enough budget for the criminal justice sector to recover from COVID-19?
• What the cost will be of making permanent some of the temporary changes brought in because of the pandemic (if these are to become permanent)?
• Whether organisations in the criminal justice sector have enough budget and staff to be able to cope with a return to pre-pandemic levels of working (e.g. expected growth in the number of court trials)?
• Whether there have been any savings and efficiencies because of the different way of working during the pandemic, what these savings have been used for elsewhere, and could they be kept once the pandemic is over?
• Where are the opportunities for future reform and savings?
The budget provided for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
• Whether the Scottish Government is providing enough budget for the work expected of the COPFS?
• What is the expected impact of the budget of the COPFS from the recent cases of malicious prosecution?
Prisons, prison reform and secure care
• Whether the Scottish Government is providing enough budget for the work expected of the Scottish Prison Service?
• Whether enough money has been allocated for the future modernisation of the prison estate beyond the work currently underway at HMP Glasgow and HMP Cornton Vale?
• Whether the current funding model for secure care in Scotland needs reformed?
Police and fire and rescue
• Whether the Scottish Government is providing enough budget for Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service?
• In particular, is there enough budget to modernise the services, their buildings, vehicles and equipment etc?
The support for victims of crime
• Whether the Scottish Government is providing enough budget to enable organisations to support victims of crime?
Legal aid
• Whether the Scottish Government is providing enough budget to enable people to access justice through the support provided by legal aid in criminal cases?
• Whether further budget and reforms are necessary to tackle the problem of accessing legal aid in remote and rural areas of Scotland?
• Whether the Scottish Government is providing enough budget to attract people to work for organisations providing services funded by legal aid (e.g. defence solicitors)?
The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government
• What money will be required to finance the different criminal justice policies set out in the new Programme for Government and whether any new and extra finance has been allocated for the various initiatives?
“Vaccinations are undoubtedly the route out of this. But vaccine passports are not.”
Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has spoken out against Scottish Government proposals to introduce a vaccine certificate in Scotland.
The Edinburgh Western MSP said: “Next week the Scottish Parliament will vote on SNP/Green proposals to introduce vaccine certification in Scotland.
“For the first time, Scottish People will have to share private medical data with strangers in order to access venues and services.
“These are COVID ID cards in all but name and the Scottish Liberal Democrats are leading the opposition to their introduction.
“Our hospitality and events businesses see COVID ID cards as a threat to their recovery.
“COVID ID cards will not stop the spread of the virus, reduce case numbers or make up for the week-long delays in contact tracing. There are no time limits on their use and the door will be left open to expand their use in the future.
“Vaccines are our way out of the pandemic and I urge everyone who can receive a vaccine to get one. But COVID ID cards are illiberal and dangerous precedent and are not part of the answer.”
Lothian Conservative MSP Miles Briggs has called on SNP and Green Minister to do more to support Edinburgh Council in preventing homelessness.
Yesterday the city council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee met to discuss challenges facing the capital.
Councillors raised concerns that the number of people presenting as homeless would rise over the next few months. Between 1st April 2020 and 30 June 2021, 2,550 people presented to the Council as homeless.
The number of household in temporary accommodation increased from 3,570 in March 2020 to 4,431 in March 2021, an increase of 24%.
Mr Briggs has also supported calls for tenants to contact Edinburgh Council if they are having trouble paying their rent to help resolve the issue sooner rather than later.
The pledge to end homelessness across Scotland by the end of this Parliament has received cross party support, with Lothian MSP Miles Briggs going even further, calling for homelessness to be ended by 2023.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“If we are going to end homelessness in Scotland then the first step is to prevent people becoming homeless.
“Charities, such as Crisis, do excellent work to stop people becoming homeless, by working with Private landlords and Edinburgh Council.
“In Edinburgh we face unique challenges to preventing homelessness and SNP/ Green Ministers are not providing enough support to prevent people from becoming homeless.
“I will be meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government later this month to discuss these issues in greater detail.”
The Scottish Parliament has launched its ‘Emerging Leaders’ programme to improve minority ethnic diversity and seniority amongst Holyrood staff.
In a dual approach, the initiative aims to develop existing minority ethnic talent within the organisation and seeks to attract future employees from a wider range of backgrounds.
While the diversity of MSPs increased at the 2021 Scottish Election, diversity monitoring within the Parliament found minority ethnic staff were under-represented in its staff group compared to the national population, along with an ethnicity pay gap.
The new scheme will help develop the leadership skills of existing staff, while a paid internship programme for 18 to 29 year olds aims to promote the Parliament’s profile as an employer for people from black and minority ethnic communities.
Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone MSP said: “We now have a Parliament of MSPs that better reflects the diversity of Scotland. It’s fundamentally important however that the talented staff who make the Scottish Parliament function also reflect the diversity of our country, and further progress must be made on that front.
“I wholeheartedly welcome the Emerging Leaders programme and the steps being taken to improve ethnic diversity at all levels of seniority within the Scottish Parliament.”
While the new session of the Scottish Parliament gets underway this week, MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee have been quick off the mark. Last Thursday members visited the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and HMP Edinburgh.
The Committee heard how Scottish courts have adapted to COVID and how they see the recovery progressing, including plans to clear the backlog of almost 50,000 trials.
The SCTS visit included a demonstration of courtroom facilities and links to remote jury centres, and meetings with the Lord President, Rt Hon Lord Carloway, Scotland’s most senior judge, and SCTS Chief Executive, Eric McQueen.
At HMP Edinburgh, MSPs focused on: • facilities offered to prisoners, including those with more complex health or disability issues, • new arrivals to prison, • dealing with serious organised crime groups and violence in prisons, and • parole, education, rehabilitation and ‘Throughcare’ for those leaving prison.
Criminal Justice Committee Convener, Audrey Nicoll MSP, said: “The new Criminal Justice Committee is currently on a mission to listen and learn about the priorities of those working in the justice sector.
“Courts and prisons are a cornerstone of justice in Scotland, and I know Members will appreciate the views of everyone we meet today – from the prisoners in HMP Edinburgh to the Lord President, our most senior judge.
“We will use September to hear from others with frontline experience and expertise. This knowledge will shape where we focus our attention in the months ahead.”
The Committee has agreed that its first meetings will hear from a wide range of Criminal Justice sector stakeholders, as well as hearing what the Scottish Government’s priorities are in this area.
This is expected to include updates around the role of the Lord Advocate within the prosecution system and government, the future of Scotland’s three-verdict system and the wider sector’s recovery from COVID-19.
Details of initial September work programme:
• Morning of Wednesday 1 September – evidence session with Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Minister for Community Safety on the Scottish Government’s justice and policing priorities for session 6, • Morning of Wednesday 8 September – roundtable with a range of witnesses on the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the justice sector, • Morning of Wednesday15 September – two roundtables: 1) Priorities for prisons and prison policy in session 6, and 2) Priorities for youth offending, community justice and alternatives to prisons in session 6, • Morning of Wednesday 22nd September – two roundtables: 1) Priorities for domestic abuse, gendered-violence and sexual offences in session 6, and 2) Victim support and victims’ rights, • Morning of Wednesday 29 September – roundtable on reform of legal aid.
Subject to agreement, a further roundtable on the misuse of drugs is also planned.
Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton has been confirmed as the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. He was elected unopposed.
Mr Cole-Hamilton takes over from Willie Rennie, who stepped down after the Scottish Parliament elections in May which saw the Lib-Dem contingent reduced to just four MSPs at Holyrood.
Following the announcement Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “With everything we have been through Scotland needs new hope right now. As the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, I want to offer that to the people of our country.
“We no longer have to choose between the Scottish nationalisms of the SNP and the Brexit nationalism of the Conservatives, the Scottish Liberal Democrats are the positive, unifying alternative.
“Our country is a beautiful and dynamic place to live, our people are proud, and our history is magnificent, but over time we have become subdued by the collapse of industry, failing health and disinterest from those in power.
“As we come out of the pandemic, we need to do things differently. Going back to the way things were cannot be the limit of our ambition. We need to bring our country together so we can focus on the issues and the challenges we are all facing.
“Here are some of my priorities:
Tackle the climate emergency, without the baggage of nationalism
Value and reward our carers
Make Scotland the best place in the world to receive an education, once again
Give people the freedom to live the lives they want, without government interference
Give local communities a bigger say
Make Scotland a powerhouse for research and innovation
Closer cooperation with our partners across the UK and in Europe
“We can achieve all of this and more, but only if we get beyond the divisions of the past.
“If you agree with me, you can be a part of the new hope I want to bring to Scotland. Join me and the Scottish Liberal Democrats.”
Lib-Dem leader Ed Davey said: “A huge congratulations to @agcolehamilton on his election as Leader of @ScotLibDems. Alex is a true liberal and tireless campaigner.
“I look forward to working closely with him to fight the climate crisis, value carers, and deliver world-class education and services for Scotland.”
Mr Cole-Hamilton’s appointment was announced by his colleague Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine on the same day as the SNP – Scottish Greens working agreement was confirmed.
Ms Jardine said: “Alex is not just someone who’s in this because of politics, he’s in this because of what he believes and it will be his vision, his views, his direction that will take the party forward into the next phase.
“We all have a job to do in supporting Alex, we all have a job to do in getting the message out there, and we all have a job to do in ensuring that this next phase of our history is a strong, positive one.
“Alex is the one who’s going to lead us forward in portraying that to the Scottish people, winning their support again, and making sure that we change Scottish politics.”
The Scottish Parliament has been in recess since 26 June but resumes on 29 August.
Shared programme agreed to ‘build a greener, fairer, independent Scotland’
The Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group have agreed to work together over the next five years to build a green economic recovery from COVID, respond to the climate emergency and create a fairer country.
A shared draft policy programme – the Bute House Agreement – has been agreed. It focuses on areas of mutual interest to improve the way Scotland is governed and create a stable platform to meet the challenges Scotland faces.
It details collaboration on the climate emergency, economic recovery, child poverty, the natural environment, energy and the constitution. It includes commitments to:
hold a referendum on Scottish independence after the COVID pandemic has passed, within the current parliamentary session
increase investment in active travel and public transport, including a Fair Fares review to provide a realistic and affordable alternative to car use
a strengthened framework of support for the marine renewables and offshore wind sectors
take forward a ten-year £500 million Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray
significantly increase the level of the Scottish Child Payment, in order to maximise the impact on child poverty, with the full £20 payment being achieved within the lifetime of the Parliament
designate at least one new National Park by the end of this parliamentary session
enhance marine environmental protection
implement an effective national system of rent controls, enhance tenants’ rights and deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032
invest at least £1.8 billion over this parliamentary session in energy efficiency and renewable heating
establish two new Scottish Government overseas offices in Warsaw and Copenhagen to promote Scotland’s interests in central Europe and the Nordic countries
Alongside the draft policy programme, the draft co-operation agreement sets out the way in which the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party will work together. This will include the nomination of two Green MSPs to be Scottish Government Ministers.
The cooperation agreement also lists a number of areas that are outwith the scope of the agreement, where both sides have agreed to differ.
The draft agreements will now be considered by the respective political parties involved and Ministers will provide an update to Parliament following recess.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government has reached a ground-breaking agreement with the Scottish Green Party that meets the challenges and opportunities of our time.
“The challenges we face have rarely been greater – the climate emergency, recovery from a global pandemic and an assault by the UK government on the powers of our Parliament.
“Today’s politics can too often feel small – polarised, divided and incapable of meeting the moment – and this agreement is intended to change that in Scotland. It is about doing politics and governance better to find the solutions needed to solve the problems confronting the world today.
“The spirit of co-operation and consensus-building is very much in keeping with the founding principles of our Scottish Parliament. We do not agree on everything but we are coming out of our comfort zones to focus on what we do agree on.
“The agreement delivers bold policy action on pressing issues. A commitment to more affordable housing, a better deal for tenants and action to tackle poverty and inequality. Steps to accelerate our transition to net zero – more support for active travel, transformation of home energy and a ten year transition fund for the North East of Scotland. A focus on green jobs and fair work – and a sustainable recovery from COVID.
“We also reaffirm in this Agreement our shared commitment to securing independence for Scotland, and to giving people the right to choose our country’s future through a referendum.
“It recognises that business as usual is not good enough – we need boldness, courage and a will to do things differently. That is what we offer.”
Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “This is a historic moment, which could not come at a more important time.
“We must build a fairer and compassionate country and we must do everything in our power to tackle the escalating climate and nature emergencies to deliver a just transition for all. That is what this deal will do.
“Fundamentally this is a new approach to politics. We agree on some things and disagree on others – those distinctive voices can and will remain.”
Green Party co-leader Lorna Slater said: “The stakes could not be higher – with the COP26 climate conference coming to Glasgow, Scotland is in a position show real leadership on climate. But this deal is about people as well as the planet.
“Together, we would deliver a new deal for tenants, giving tenants more rights and introducing rent controls to help tackle Scotland’s housing crisis, create a new National Park, and much more.
“That’s why we are pledging to work together to build a greener, fairer and independent Scotland.”
The announcement has not been met with universal joy, oddly enough …
Largest opposition party the Scottish Conservatives say the deal is a ‘declaration of war on working Scots.’
“The SNP and Green coalition is anti-jobs and anti-business. They will push for indyref2 while starting a war on working Scotland. The @ScotTories will stand up for workers against this nationalist coalition of chaos.”
The STUC was quick to respond:
Responding to the power-sharing partnership announcement, GMB General Secretary Gary Smith said: “In the election the Greens said they wanted carers to be paid a £15 minimum, and with the consultation under way on the National Care Service, tens of thousands of staff undervalued on £9.50 an hour will expect Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie to deliver on their promises.
“They also campaigned on a platform to deliver a 12.5 per cent pay rise for nurses, the 4 per cent increase implemented didn’t come close to closing the massive pay restoration” gap after years of cuts, and in 2022 our NHS staff will expect better.
“And workers across our energy sector will be looking on with real concern, they will be seeking assurances that this deal will not be a one-way ticket to the dole queue – it’s as simple as that.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “This shouldn’t come as a surprise. It confirms a long-held suspicion that the Scottish Greens are just a branch office of the SNP.”
