Meeting of the Parliament 25 November 2025
She was just trying to interrupt my speech. This is what we have got, and it is what we will get for the next couple of days: SNP members telling Opposition politicians, “Shut up, sit down, and don’t speak about it. We have made a mess of it. Just clear it up for us so that we get no attention.”
Hundreds of millions of pounds will potentially be withdrawn from local government and will need to be paid for by the Scottish Government because of an error that was made by the Scottish Government. I repeat what I said earlier: if the shoe were on the other foot and if this was a different Parliament with a different party in Government, SNP members would be kicking up a stink.
When I intervened on him earlier, Graeme Dey said that I am thinking up conspiracy theories. Members will think up conspiracy theories if the Government tries to shut down the debate, if the minister does not even respond to genuine points that have been made and if SNP members try to interrupt Opposition members who are putting things on the record, which is an important part of our role as legislators who are trying to pass good legislation.
In speaking against the motion—I will vote against it—I once again urge the Government to consider being wholly honest and transparent. The Government should release all the details so that, if we are to clear up its mess, we will at least do so with the full information.