SNP fears over state guardians
THE SNP’s iron discipline appeared to crack last night as leading candidates expressed concern over the controversial Named Person scheme and backed a review of the policy.
Toni Giugliano, who is favourite to win the Edinburgh Western seat for the Nationalists, yesterday spoke out on the plan to appoint a state guardian for every child, saying he believes the Government should ‘assess and review its impact’ after the policy has been implemented across Scotland.
Jim Eadie, the party’s candidate in Edinburgh Southern, also said the legislation ‘should be kept under review’ as concern continues to mount over the initiative, which is being challenged in the UK Supreme Court.
First Minister Miss Sturgeon has claimed that parents can ‘opt out’ of following the guidance of a Named Person but the appointment of a guardian is universal.
LEADING SNP candidates have backed a review of the controversial ‘state snoopers’ law as the first cracks appear in the party’s iron discipline.
Nicola Sturgeon’s Named Person scheme – due to come into force in August – is now set to dominate the final days of the election campaign.
Toni Giugliano, who is favourite to win the Edinburgh Western contest, revealed in a hustings that he believes the Government should ‘assess and review its impact’ after the policy has been implemented across Scotland.
Jim Eadie, the Nationalist candidate in Edinburgh Southern, has also said the legislation ‘should be kept under review’.
Both remain staunch supporters of the plan, but the comments demonstrate the nervousness within the SNP amid a growing public backlash.
As part of the state guardian legislation, the NHS will appoint a health worker to act as the Named Person for every child until the age of five. The responsibility will then pass to councils until the child reaches 18, with teachers expected to be asked to take on the role.
The policy is already being rolled out in parts of Scotland including Highland,
‘We’ve seen outrage around the country’
Edinburgh, Fife, Angus and South Ayrshire.
But it is the subject of a legal challenge at the Supreme Court in London, and a poll of more than 500 Scots recently found that two-thirds believe it is an ‘unacceptable intrusion’ into family life.
First Minister Miss Sturgeon has claimed parents can ‘opt out’ of following the guidance of a Named Person, but the appointment of a guardian is universal.
The legislation was approved at Holyrood in 2014 following five hours of debate, with Labour and the Lib Dems eventually siding with the SNP – while the Tories abstained.
But the Scottish Daily Mail recently revealed that Labour has now shifted its position and backs a ‘pause’.
Yesterday, Edinburgh Western Labour candidate Cat Headley said: ‘Parents have lost confidence in the Named Person scheme so it’s welcome that SNP candidates are finally waking up to that reality.
‘Labour supports the principle but it would be wrong for the SNP to carry on with this scheme without winning back the trust of parents.
‘The right thing to do is to back Labour’s plan for a pause to allow the Children’s Commissioner to review the whole process.’
Mr Giugliani said: ‘The policy formalises the role of teachers and health visitors with the aim of protecting vulnerable children. I also said that like any law, we should assess and review its impact a couple of years down the line.
‘Any interpretation that suggests I’m against the policy is complete fabrication.’
Mr Eadie said: ‘I was proud to vote for the legislation but it is legitimate for people to ask questions and seek reassurance that the implementation of this will be adequately resourced.
‘It should be kept under review, as with all legislation, and if it has to be modified and changed, that is appropriate.’
The scheme was recently plunged into further chaos after teachers warned they will not perform the role during school holidays or at weekends. Ministers are already facing a rebellion from health visitors, who fear they will be made scapegoats and sued by angry parents if children are harmed.
Speaking on Sky News yesterday, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘We are the only party in parliament that consistently argued against [Named Person legislation]. We’ve seen outrage in the country about what’s happening in August.
‘And now suddenly the Labour Party says let’s have a pause and review this again. If I’m head of the opposition, then let’s bring this back to the parliament. Let’s get this legislation stopped.’
The Lib Dems have also raised concerns about the implementation of the scheme – despite repeatedly defending it.
An SNP spokesman said the law was passed by 103 votes to nil with the full support of Labour and Lib Dem MSPs ‘which exposes the utter hypocrisy on this issue from the other parties, who are now trying to play politics with an issue which at its heart is about child safety’.