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Rolling updates on the COVID-19 coronavirus advice

This page gives a rolling update on COVID-19 coronavirus. It will be kept up to date as much as possible.

Coronavirus in Scotland

There are now confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) across Scotland.

Statement on UK Government blocking Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill

Today will go down as a day of infamy for the UK Government.

The Section 35 action taken by the UK Tory Government cannot stand.

It must not stand.

The Scottish Parliament voted overwhelmingly by a two thirds majority for this legislation, which was supported by members of every political party in the Scottish Parliament.

This legislation was about helping one of the most marginalised groups in society being afforded compassion and dignity in asserting their individual identity and obtaining appropriate legal recognition of their gender.

This legislation is legal.

It is competent.

It does not impact UK legislation in any way.

In truth, today’s actions by the UK Secretary of State for Scotland is a cheap and tawdry attack upon the human rights of the Transgendered community in Scotland.

Furthermore, it is an attack upon the very democratic legitimacy of the Scottish Parliament.

For having taken such precipitate action once, the UK Government is sure to do it again, and again, and again; thereby undermining the legitimacy of the democratically elected Scottish Parliament and the conceptual framework of devolved government.

This is not a party political matter – It is a matter of human rights.

This is not Scotland’s shame – It is the UK Government’s shame.

The stain of Thatcher’s hated Section 28 cast a long shadow over members of the LGBTQ+ community. A poison remembered long after being purged from the statute book.

We cannot allow Sunak’s Section 35 order to inflict the same injury and harm.

MP calls on UK Govt to hold a "Resilience Hour" in solidarity with Ukraine

An SNP MP has called on the UK Government to get behind a Ukrainian initiative called ‘Resilience Hour’, calling on the world to switch off or dim their Christmas lights on the darkest day of the year, in solidarity with Ukraine.

Southside MP leads Westminster support for special tribunal seeking justice for Ukraine

The SNP at Westminster today welcomed a Ukrainian delegation tasked with helping to create a special international tribunal to bring to justice those guilty of aggression against Ukraine.