Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 16 December 2025 [Draft]
16 Dec 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Motion of No Confidence
I know—and I imagine that most members know this, too—that Angela Constance is a sincere minister who would never address Parliament in a way that would in any way mislead Parliament or the public. That is evident to me from the way in which Angela Constance has, over a period of almost two years, openly and with candour, shared with Parliament the very acute challenges that we face in dealing with the rising prison population and the incredibly difficult decisions that we must take on this issue. There is vital work to be done to protect children, and getting on with that work has been what my Government has been doing, just as it has been getting on with a raft of other reforms.
For example, in justice, Angela Constance, in the past 18 months, has successfully steered four crucial acts through the Parliament, including the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, which delivers the biggest reforms for victims of crime in the history of devolution. [Interruption.]
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20135, in the name of Russell Findlay, on a motion of no confidence. I invite members who wish to speak i...
Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Today, my party brings forward a motion of no confidence in the justice secretary. I will now explain why that is a necessary course of action. In my four y...
The First Minister (John Swinney)
SNP
The safety and wellbeing of children in Scotland is a paramount concern of all of us as members of Parliament, no matter our politics or whether we are membe...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Let us hear the First Minister.
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
That is absolutely scandalous.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Mr Kerr! Thank you.
The First Minister
SNP
I acknowledge that members of Parliament and members of the public will draw different conclusions from the words that we all use. Interruption.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Let us hear the First Minister.
The First Minister
SNP
I know—and I imagine that most members know this, too—that Angela Constance is a sincere minister who would never address Parliament in a way that would in a...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Sorry, First Minister. There is a lot of noise in the chamber. I would very much like to hear those whom I have called to speak, and I am sure that other pa...
The First Minister
SNP
That act will transform victims’ and witnesses’ experiences of the justice system and ensure that they are treated with compassion. As all those bills were p...
Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I speak in favour of the motion of no confidence in Angela Constance, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. I do so for one reason above all ot...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
Ind
Yes.
Anas Sarwar
Lab
Can you?
John Mason
Ind
Yes.
Anas Sarwar
Lab
Wow. Shame on you for shouting that out, Mr Mason. For every single—
Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
SNP
Shame on you!
Anas Sarwar
Lab
Shame on you too, Mr Brown, for shouting that out. I have quoted the words of the mother of a victim. For them, this Parliament should support this motion o...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
I am profoundly sad that we have got to this point. The Scottish Government can and should have handled this issue far better, but I doubt that that would ha...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Let us hear one another.
Ross Greer
Green
However, the current guidance on RSHP education is so out of date that it does not even have a section on the importance of consent. The updated draft guidan...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, members. We will hear Mr Greer.
Ross Greer
Green
The Greens will be voting against the motion. 14:53
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (LD)
LD
The Scottish Liberal Democrats take no pleasure in this debate. We came to the view that today’s vote is regrettable, and it was avoidable. When we deliberat...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
We have been down the road of calling for a vote of no confidence in ministers before. In the past, we have called for people in charge to step down because ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
That concludes the debate on the motion of no confidence and we move to the question. The question is, that motion S6M-20135, in the name of Russell Findlay...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division. We will suspend the meeting to allow members to access the digital voting system. 15:03 Meeting suspended. 15:09 On resuming—
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We come to the vote on motion S6M-20135, in the name of Russell Findlay. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is closed.
Keith Brown
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect. I would have voted no.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, Mr Brown. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jer...