‘DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS’ MSP BLASTED
Controversial anti-abortion politician attacked after he welcomes shocking Supreme Court decision
AN SNP MSP has been slated for welcoming the US Supreme Court’s shock decision to remove the constitutional right to abortion there.
John Mason, who has frequently voiced so-called pro-life views, said he was “positive” about the ruling, calling it “good for democracy”.
But Labour called his views “downright dangerous”.
THE SNP were last night under pressure to dump a controversial MSP after he welcomed the US Supreme Court decision that ended the constitutional right to abortion.
John Mason suggested that the end of US-wide rights to abortion opened up the possibility of Scotland diverging from the rest of the UK when it came to the 24-week limit on terminations.
Labour MSP Carol Mochan called his views “sickening” and “downright dangerous” and said the SNP had to decide if it “cared more” about protecting women or itself.
Mason’s intervention came hours before Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish summit on access to abortion clinics.
The MSP for Glasgow Shettleston is a committed Christian and has been condemned for saying that he does not see “any great need” for buffer zones around abortion clinics in Scotland.
He previously defended the anti-abortion “vigils” that have sprung up at Glasgow clinics in a copy of protests seen at US abortion clinics.
Now, in an email to a voter, Mason said he was “pretty positive” about the US court ruling which overturned the 50-year-old Roe v Wade case that guaranteed abortion rights across the US.
He linked the end of the constitutional protection, which means the return to individual US states ruling on abortion, to the devolution of powers over the abortion process to the Scottish Parliament. He said: “In the first place it is good for democracy as decisions on abortion will be made at state level rather than United States-wide.”
“This brings the US into line with the UK with decisions on abortion are made at a Scotland or England level or not a UK level.”
Mason added: “However, I fully accept that the key issue here is abortion itself. I note points people are making about women’s rights.
“However others would argue that from the point of conception, there are two people with the rights both the woman and the baby. “So I very much see my role as speaking out for the weaker party, namely the baby.”
Mochan, Scottish Labour women’s health spokesperson, said: “It is sickening to see an SNP MSP gloating at millions of women losing access to vital healthcare.
“The SNP claim to stand up for women, but they look the other way every time John Mason launches another vile attack on human rights.
“Time and time again Mason reels off inflammatory, misleading and downright dangerous views without repercussions.
“It is becoming more and more difficult for SNP politicians to justify sharing a party with him.
“It is time for the SNP to decide whether they care more about protecting women’s rights or protecting their own party.”
Mason’s statement brought a stinging reaction from the Scottish Government minister for women’s health, SNP MSP Maree Todd, who will speak at today’s summit with Sturgeon.
She tweeted: “For the avoidance of doubt: There is nothing positive about the US court ruling. Abortion is legal up to 24 weeks in Scotland. There will be no change to that.”
Approached about his opinions yesterday, Mason said: “I have said a fair bit on this already. I am not sure I have anything new to say on it.”
It’s sickening to see an SNP MSP gloating at women losing access to healthcare CAROL MOCHAN LABOUR MSP
I see my role as speaking out for the weaker party, namely the baby
JOHN MASON ON HIS VIEWS ON ABORTION