Latest news with #HolyroodBill
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Cleverly: 'Tory government GRR block shows value of Union'
MSPs passed the Gender Recognition Reform Bill at the end of 2022 by 86 votes to 39 on a cross-party basis. The legislation was intended to speed up and simplify the process for a trans person to obtain a gender recognition certificate and change their legal sex. Under the current system, this takes at least two years, involves a medical diagnosis and is only available from the age of 18. The Holyrood Bill would have reduced the waiting time to six months, scrapped the need for medical diagnosis and lowered the age threshold to 16. After it was passed, the then Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, used Section 35 to ultimately prevent the Bill from gaining Royal Assent. In his statement to the Commons explaining his reasons, he said the legislation would have a 'serious adverse impact' on, among other things, the operation of UK-wide equality law. Alister Jack (Image: PA) Sir James said: 'I do think that this issue has been a prime example of the importance of the Union, because this issue was clearly spiralling out of control—badly out of control—and down in Westminster, looking at the debate, looking at this information, which was becoming more and more surreal, had it not been that really close working relationship between Alister Jack, the Scottish Conservatives, and the number of people fighting to protect women's rights in Scotland, we in Westminster would not have been able to intervene to try and press the pause and think-about-it button—because that is all we did. 'It was not imposing a Westminster solution on Scotland. It was about pressing the pause button and saying, hang on a second, this just sounds weird to us. You should think again and think more carefully. 'That is what the relationship was. And because of that close working relationship, I think we are now on a road towards a more thoughtful, pragmatic and sustainable solution—one which works for trans people, works for women, whatever sexual orientation—works for gay men. 'I think we can get there, and I genuinely hope we can get there, but we have got to make sure that we do not lose sight of some of the fundamental reasons why a number of us got into politics in the first place, which was to protect the vulnerable, give voice to the voiceless, and make sure that people do not make foolish decisions in the heat of the moment. "I am glad that we in Westminster—Alister Jack in particular—played a small part in helping to inject a little bit of thoughtfulness in this conversation.'
Scotsman
08-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
John Swinney reveals how he will vote on assisted dying next week in 'incredibly difficult' decision
John Swinney has indicated how he will vote on the assisted dying legislation coming before the Scottish Parliament next week Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... John Swinney has revealed he will vote against the Assisted Dying Bill next week, describing it as an "incredibly difficult" decision. The First Minister said the legislation, put forward by Liberal Democrats MSP Liam McArthur, was a "much better Bill" than previous attempts as he admitted his decision 'will cause disappointment'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad An opponent of assisted suicide outside Westminster. Picture: Benjamin Cremel/AFP via Getty Images But Mr Swinney indicated he was worried about the relationship between doctors and patients that would result from the legislation being approved. The SNP leader said he was "full of admiration" for Mr McArthur and that he had gone through "a degree of agonising" this time around, but that ultimately he "can't reconcile that with the concerns". He said if he abstained he "wouldn't be able to look myself in the mirror" for shying away. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "I couldn't contemplate having the conversation about the question of assisted dying with my wife knowing the health challenges she has and has a terminal illness,' he said. 'I couldn't contemplate having that conversation." Mr Swinney stressed the set-up between Scotland and the rest of the UK would need work if MSPs backed the Holyrood Bill as a majority. The First Minister spoke from Holyrood ahead of a key vote on Tuesday on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. It is the third time legislation in a bid to approve assisted dying has passed through the Scottish Parliament. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad People take part in a demonstration at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, London, to oppose assisted dying legislation. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire If it becomes law, the Bill would give people at the advanced stage of a terminal illness the option of requesting help to end their life. Mr Swinney's comments come after Professor James Chalmers, from Glasgow University, and Dr Sarah Sivers, from Robert Gordon University, raised concerns earlier this week the existing 'lack of legal clarity' risked health care staff and family members being prosecuted if they helped a terminally ill person to end their life. Mr McArthur has insisted there is a 'clear and compelling' case for backing his Bill, which aims to give adults suffering from the advanced stages of a terminal illness the right to seek help to end their life.
