Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 25 November 2020
As members have said, here we are again. I had thought that the SNP would, after it lost the crucial vote in the chamber three weeks ago on a motion that had cross-party backing, surely reconsider its approach, and release the legal advice that it was given on the Salmond judicial review. The Scottish people deserve nothing less. After all, £500,000 of taxpayers’ cash has been wasted on the SNP Government’s botched handling of claims of sexual harassment. In fact, as we heard in the chamber today, the cost could be nearer £1 million. Even £500,000 would be enough to pay the annual salaries of about 15 registered nurses in Scotland.
However, perhaps my optimism got the better of me. The SNP continues to dig in its heels, shamefully ignoring the voices of committee members and MSPs who simply want the issue to be resolved. We want to move on. Unfortunately, this latest move is symbolic of the Government’s arrogance and of its genuinely contemptuous attitude to the Scottish Parliament. This Parliament, which is supposed to represent openness and transparency, will not stand for it. Therefore, why should the people of Scotland? It is that simple.
The investigative committee also deserves full transparency and co-operation from the Scottish Government. However, it has become all too clear that this Government has made every attempt to hinder the committee’s ability to fulfil its duties. The Deputy First Minister’s blocking of two key witnesses is just the latest example of obstruction in a long-running pattern of behaviour from the SNP leadership. What on earth have they got to hide? The release of the legal advice is an essential step in providing the committee with the ability to assess the full picture. There should be no ifs and no buts—the Government must hand over all the necessary documentation so that the committee can thoroughly investigate, and do the job that it has been assigned.
There is clear precedent for the Scottish Government releasing legal advice, given that it has done so on various occasions, ranging from the trams inquiry to the UK infected blood inquiry. At Westminster, there has been a litany of calls from SNP members of Parliament for the UK Government to release legal advice on a series of issues. Whether it is the European Union withdrawal agreement, the Benn act or Syria air strikes, the SNP has certainly not been shy in demanding that others release legal advice when it thinks that that would suit its goals. That is, quite frankly, breathtaking hypocrisy, and we will continue to call it out.
I am afraid that the Government’s current position cannot stand any longer. The public are frustrated that the debacle has not been brought to a close.
As has already been mentioned, the Scottish Parliament provided a clear instruction to the SNP Government to release the legal advice immediately. That call has, unfortunately, fallen on deaf ears, to the detriment of the Parliament’s reputation. I agree with Douglas Ross: if the SNP continues to dodge scrutiny and ignore Parliament, legal action might be necessary in order to force it to come clean. For the time being, however, power remains in the SNP’s hands.
There is still time to do the right thing and to co-operate fully with the committee, which the First Minister had previously promised that the SNP Government would do. It is high time that that commitment was honoured. I hope for the sake of the Parliament and people of Scotland that the SNP chooses to do that, before it is too late.
17:25