Issues - My policy positions
EU referendum result
Like most people in Scotland I was bitterly disappointed with the outcome of the European Union Referendum as the United Kingdom marginally voted to leave.
I was proud of Scotland’s clear vote to remain in the EU, to remain open and inclusive, to protect our access to a market of 500 million people and our ability to co-operate internationally.
But I am disappointed at the decision the rest of the UK made and the consequences of this vote will be vast and far reaching for communities across these islands, and are made even more difficult at the fact that Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union.
This moves Scotland – and indeed the UK – into uncharted waters.
As a Scottish Member of Parliament I am determined to give effect to the result that my country voted for. That is to remain within the European Union and continue with the benefits that membership brings us both socially and economically. This has been the guiding principle of Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
She set out what action the Scottish Government will now take to safeguard our future in Europe, following the unequivocal vote for Scotland to remain in the EU, and we will take all possible steps and explore all options to secure Scotland’s continuing place in the EU and in the single market in particular.
The Scottish Government are keen to enter into discussions with other EU countries, the rest of the UK, other devolved administrations, and have already spoken the EU institutions about the way forward. A panel of advisers with experience in the EU, in finance, in the law and in key areas of the economy has also been created to support the Scottish Government in those discussions.
The Scottish cabinet have already been touch with the business community to provide reassurance and stability, and I, along with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Glasgow Cathcart MSP James Dornan, have written to EU citizens living in our constituencies to let them know they are welcome in Scotland.
At this stage, we are not proposing a second independence referendum to protect Scotland’s place in the EU, but should that be required, then we will ask the Scottish Parliament for consent to do so.
This is a wakeup call for all of us who believe in the continental union. Europe is worth saving and being a part of. However it does need to better connect with its citizens.
I want to see a Europe where its achievements match its ambition, and I believe that an ancient nation like Scotland can bring a lot to building a new, modern Europe for the coming age.
And this is why I believe Scotland is better off remaining within the European Union.
Panama Tax Haven Revelations
The scale of revelations in the Panama papers has been breath-taking.
It is a matter of the greatest concern that this particular law firm is just one of many operators offering similar services – and this in just one so-called ‘tax haven’.
At a time when the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer are imposing yet more austerity upon ordinary working people, the Treasury has been caught sleeping whilst a significant number of wealthy individuals are hiding their money offshore, away from view of HMRC.
The potential loss of revenue to HMRC and the UK is vast – it is impossible to tell just how much is slipping through the Treasury’s hands, and the money lost to the Exchequer through such opaque financial practices could amount to a significant contribution towards paying down the nation's deficit.
The SNP Deputy Leader and Economy spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP has called on the Chancellor, George Osborne to make an urgent statement on the continuing fall-out from the publication of the Panama papers and what action he is going to take to end the abuses outlined.
I have already submitted questions to Parliament for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to answer on this issue and the responses will be published here on my website when they are received.
Investigatory Powers Bill - Update
The Investigatory Powers Bill received its second reading in Parliament on Tuesday.
Whilst the SNP support targeted suspicion based surveillance which is properly authorised and overseen, and we welcome the introduction of some judicial oversight of the authorisation of warrants, we have grave concerns about other aspects of the Bill including collection of Internet connection records and bulk powers.
Undoubtedly the law needs a thorough overhaul and the attempt to consolidate a number of statutes in order to have a modern and comprehensive law is to be welcomed. We recognise that the security services and the police require adequate powers to fight terrorism and serious crime. However, such powers must always be shown to be necessary, proportionate and in accordance with the law. In particular, they must not impinge unduly on the right to privacy or the security of private data. Many of the powers in the Bill do not pass these tests.
The Government has failed to strike the right balance and whilst we are prepared to work with all parties constructively to amend the Bill in order to get the balance right, we cannot support the Bill at this time.
Many of the powers in the Bill are of questionable legality and in significant respects the powers sought go further than any other government in the west has been prepared to go. The draft bill was given insufficient time for consideration, therefore it is imperative that the Government allows for full scrutiny of the Bill. In its current form the SNP cannot give this Bill our full support.
Yesterday we abstained and said we would work for this Bill to be significantly amended to address our concerns and those of other parliamentarians, civil liberties groups and technology companies. We made it clear that if our concerns are not addressed, we reserve the right to vote against the Bill in the later stages of its passage through Parliament
Freedom of Information
The UK Government established a Commission to review the Freedom of Information Act last year.
My SNP colleagues and I are concerned that this Commission has been hand-picked by the Prime Minister and is unrepresentative of both the public and Parliament.
We are further concerned that meetings were held in private, and initial reports seemed to suggest that the Commission will simply rubber-stamp the Government’s plans to introduce fees for FoI requests, and limit the Act’s applicability.
My SNP colleague Tommy Sheppard MP has instead worked with other opposition parties to establish an alternative Commission, which will meet in public and take evidence from a wide variety of sources including Government Ministers, officials, NGOs and academics.
Rest assured that my SNP colleagues and I will continue to oppose the UK Government’s plans to restrict Freedom of Information.
Welfare Reform Bill - ESA
My SNP colleagues and I have consistently opposed the UK Government’s proposals to cut £30 a week from the support given to sick and disabled people in the ESA work-related activity group. We challenged this cut at every stage of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill by bringing forward amendments to remove the proposal and will continue to do so when the Bill returns to the House. It is my view that cutting support for people who are not fit for work is just simply vindictive.
Instead of attacking people who are seriously sick, disabled, or living with debilitating health problems, the Tories should instead be assessing how best they can support disabled people into work and protect those currently unable to work. My SNP colleagues and I have urged the Government, in light of the defeat of the ESA WRAG measure in the House of Lords, to think again and drop this regressive measure and continue to support those who are ill whilst they are unable to work.
In Scotland, the SNP Scottish Government is taking a distinctly different approach to supporting the most vulnerable in society. Between 2013 and 2016, the Scottish Government has invested £296 million to mitigate the worst of the UK Government’s welfare cuts. The measures include full mitigation of the Bedroom Tax which helps around 72,000 households and the Scottish Welfare Fund. We will continue to mitigate the impacts of these cuts using the full powers and resources at our disposal but we want to use our powers and resources to lift people out poverty not just continue to mitigate as best we can.
Rest assured, that my SNP colleagues and I will continue to oppose these cuts in Parliament, and will continue to press for the full devolution of social security powers to the Scottish Parliament.
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