Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 10 January 2024
10 Jan 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Scottish Government Independence Publications (Lessons from Parliaments with Unelected Members)
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
As is set out in the paper “Creating a modern constitution for an independent Scotland”, the written constitution in an independent Scotland will be founded on democracy, human rights and equality protections.
We can learn many lessons from Westminster’s House of Lords, with its membership of more than 800 unelected lifelong members, largely around practices that we should seek to avoid in an independent Scotland.
Only with independence can we ensure that sovereignty rests with the people of Scotland. We have no plans for any unelected element in an independent Scotland’s legislature.
In the same item of business
3. Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
To ask the Scottish Government whether, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, any of its future publications on independence wil...
The Minister for Independence (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
As is set out in the paper “Creating a modern constitution for an independent Scotland”, the written constitution in an independent Scotland will be founded ...
Alasdair Allan
SNP
Does the minister agree that, following Baroness Mone’s disastrous television interview last month, the lesson that no Parliament, if it wishes to be account...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Minister, please speak to matters within your responsibility.
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I agree with that. I should say that it is not just Ms Mone who has acted in a manner that is unbecoming of a person in public life as a member of the UK leg...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The focus of the question was on lessons to be learned “from structures used in Parliaments elsewhere that include unelected members”, and I think that we ...
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
In reference to the question, which referenced “future publications on independence”, rather than commit to yet more papers on separation, which will inevita...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I remind Mr Cameron that this Government has a mandate to pursue that work. We won the election and his party lost it. There are many benefits to be gained b...