MSPs rush to rule themselves out of bid for party leadership
QUESTIONS HAVE been raised over the law banning so-called legal highs after two prosecutions under the legislation collapsed.
Two separate cases against people accused of intending to supply nitrous oxide were dismissed after the courts reportedly heard the drug is exempt under the Psychoactive Substances Act. The Home Office has insisted the drug – commonly known as laughing gas – is covered by the act and it is still illegal to supply for its psychoactive effect. It is understood the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is now considering the outcomes of the cases and the potential impact on future prosecutions.
One drugs campaign group has said the collapse of the two cases “demonstrates the fundamentally flawed nature” of the legislation, and has called on the CPS to review other cases.
A Home Office spokesman said: “Nitrous oxide is covered by the Psychoactive Substances Act and is illegal to supply for its psychoactive effect.
“However, the act provides an exemption for medical products.
“Whether a substance is covered by this exemption is ultimately one for a court to determine ANOTHER SENIOR Labour MSP has ruled themselves out of the running to succeed Kezia Dugdale as the next leader of the party in Scotland.
James Kelly, currently Labour’s business manager at the Scottish Parliament, said he would “certainly not” be lining up for the job.
It comes after Alex Rowley, the interim leader of the party in Scotland following Ms Dugdale’s shock departure, and Neil Findlay – who is Jeremy Corbyn’s closest ally in Holyrood – both declared they would not be standing.
Ms Dugdale, who had campaigned against Mr Corbyn in the 2016 Labour leadership contest, stunned party members in Scotland when she announced on Tuesday night she was stepping down from the job with immediate effect.
She had been leader of Scottish Labour for two years, taking over from Jim Murphy after the disastrous 2015 General Election campaign saw the party lose 40 of the 41 seats it held north of the border.
The two most likely candidates to take over from her are Holyrood health spokesman Anas based on the circumstances of each individual case.”
The Act, which was introduced last year, rolled out a blanket ban on the production, distribution, sale and supply of legal highs.
Psychoactive substances are defined in the act as a substance, intended for human consumption, Sarwar, who has previously been an MP and deputy leader of the Scottish party, and Richard Leonard, a former GMB trade union organiser who was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2016.
Mr Kelly stressed whoever that is “capable of producing a psychoactive effect”.
A number of legitimate substances such as food, alcohol, tobacco and caffeine and medical products are excluded from the legislation. Nitrous oxide is often used by medical professionals as a form of pain relief. succeeds Ms Dugdale would have to be a first minister in waiting.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s he said: “What Scottish Labour are looking for is a leader who is going to be a potential first minister, someone who will present a vision for Scotland, someone who will pull the party together, and also the country together and present Labour as a real credible force.”
Asked if he would be putting himself forward for the job he replied: “No, certainly not. I won’t be a candidate.”
But despite Scottish Labour having had three leaders quit since the 2014 independence referendum, he dismissed any suggestion that the position was a poisoned chalice. He claimed Labour north of the border had enjoyed a “surge in membership” in recent months, but could not give any details of how many new recruits had joined.
Mr Kelly went on to call for Ms Dugdale’s successor to be put in place “promptly and quickly”, as he insisted there was now “a great opportunity for the party and the person who leads the party”. LABOUR LEADER Jeremy Corbyn has appointed a new shadow women and equalities minister to replace Rotherham MP Sarah Champion, who stood down after apologising for a controversial newspaper article.
Brent Central MP Dawn Butler has now taken on the role in Labour’s top team.
Ms Champion caused a furore after warning Britain has a “problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls” in a column for
The MP apologised for her “extremely poor choice of words” and quit her shadow cabinet post in the wake of the controversy.
Announcing the new appointment, Mr Corbyn said: “Dawn is a great champion for women, equality for all and our country’s diverse communities. I look forward to working closely with her to advance our agenda of a truly equal society that works for the many not the few.”
Ms Butler said: “I am honoured to accept this appointment and would like to thank Sarah Champion for all the hard work she has done in the role. Labour will tackle all forms of discrimination and the ways they interact.”