Alba MSP says ‘door is open’ as she writes to Yousaf
AFORMER Scottish secretary has warned Humza Yousaf against backing Ash Regan’s indyref2 bill – saying that it risks a repeat of Westminster-vetoed transgender law reforms.
LibDem MP Alistair Carmichael, who served as Scottish secretary during the independence referendum, said the Alba MSP’s Referendum Bill – one of her key demands to the First Minister in exchange for her support in a confidence vote – was a dead end.
But Alba have hit back saying the bill had the legal backing of a top KC and that it would “move the independence movement forward”.
Regan has offered her support for the First Minister if he backs her Referendum Bill, which has stalled despite the pro-independence majority of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.
ALBA MSP Ash Regan said her “door is open” in a letter to the First Minister as he faces a vote of no confidence in Holyrood. The vote called by the Scottish Conservatives – which is expected to happen next week – is likely to be close.
The SNP have 63 out of the 128 MSPs in the Scottish Parliament. As such, Regan’s vote may be crucial in getting Yousaf over the line in a confidence vote.
In her letter, Regan said that she would highlight independence and the “safety and rights of women and children” as her priorities in any discussion with fellow MSPs.
She wrote: “Dear First Minister, the Bute House Agreement is over. Scotland deserves and demands a reset. I am open to talking to anyone across this chamber who will prioritise progress on what we were elected to deliver for our constituents and Scotland.
“Independence for Scotland, protecting the dignity, safety and rights of women and children, and providing a competent government for our people and businesses across Scotland remain my priorities.
“My door is open to discussing the progress of my proposed Scottish Parliament Powers Referendum bill. The opportunity to write a new chapter for Scotland is in our hands.”
Regan also published a much longer to letter to Alba Party members detailing what it might take to gain her support. In it, she said: “The Bute House Agreement is over. As we approach the crucial vote of no confidence in First Minister Humza Yousaf next week, I am carefully considering our position, always with the best interests of Scotland at heart.
“I have written to the First Minister, providing him with an early opportunity to meet with me to discuss the three clear priorities I have set out. Scotland demands serious, defined, and honourable commitments. However, a nationalist First Minister should be enthusiastic about delivering what should be our shared priorities for Scotland.
“The Alba Party’s overriding priority is the urgent pursuit of Scottish independence, and we of judicial fiat to protect the Union parliament”. While O’Neill said the Scottish Parliament could find success in legislating for indyref2 “by passing new referendum legislation with a newly worded question”, other experts have disagreed.
Professor Aileen McHarg of Durham University previously told this paper the bill would “almost certainly be seen as a proxy for a referendum on independence itself” and would also be struck down.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack made history last January when he vetoed the Gender Recognition Reform Bill. It was the first piece of legislation passed by Holyrood to be blocked by the UK Government. have suggested various ways in which Scotland’s electorate can have the opportunity to revive independence progress.
“My proposed bill on an extension of the powers of the Scottish Parliament, which includes legislating for and negotiating Scottish independence, is a testament to our shared commitment to democracy.
“I envision Scotland’s parliamentary elected members joining an Independence Convention to issue a Declaration of Scottish Sovereignty.
“This decisive step, coupled with our plan to use every election as an opportunity for the people of Scotland to demonstrate their popular mandate to negotiate independence, underscores our collective dedication to the cause.”