Anger deepens at SNP bid to make lockdown powers ‘never-ending’
Lawyers, victims, schools, unis, councils ALL object
PLANS to hand Ministers sweeping powers over everything from school closures to the release of prisoners have sparked a fresh backlash.
Several bodies have warned against the proposed ‘power grab’ in newly published responses to a consultation exercise.
Ministers took on emergency powers early in the Covid pandemic to try to protect lives. This led to forced lockdowns, ordering schools and universities to close, and releasing some prisoners early.
Although the threat of coronavirus is now diminishing, Nicola Sturgeon’s Government wants to make those emergency powers permanent.
This has triggered anger in parliament, widespread public opposition – 85 per cent of Scots oppose the proposal – and now warnings received during the Government’s own consultation process.
The responses include one from the legal profession, which argues it would give Ministers unprecedented and unchecked powers over individuals’ liberty. The Law Society of Scotland said: ‘These provisions have the potential to result in very significant restrictions on liberty being imposed by regulation, with reduced opportunities for parliamentary oversight and scrutiny.
‘This creates a risk of misuse, or of powers being used in error.’
Private schools and universities are also alarmed at the prospect of Ministers retaining powers to force them to close. John Edward, director of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, said: ‘Such a power would have a disproportionate effect on independently funded schools. No automatic power should be held by government without a commensurate responsibility to ensure the financial viability of any such institution.’
The response from Universities Scotland states: ‘We do not believe these powers should be continued insofar as they are intended to apply to universities, principally because we believe the powers are unnecessary and inoperable.’ It also has fears about the potential impact on students, saying: ‘A higher education institution cannot “close”. Students rely on institutions being able to assess their achievements and award degrees.’
During the pandemic the Government also passed emergency legislation to free some prisoners early.
Now there are fears for the impact on victims and their families if the powers are made permanent.
Mike Findlay, of Victim Support Scotland, said: ‘We have concerns about public safety and the wellbeing of people impacted by crime as the result of early release.’
Marsha Scott, of Scottish Women’s Aid, said: ‘SWA opposes early release for domestic abuse offences as we have no confidence that victims-survivors’ safety will not be compromised.’
Meanwhile, councils warned more government-imposed lockdowns would further hit their finances.
Aberdeen City Council’s response said the government’s actions had ‘already had a significant financial impact on local authorities’ and extending powers would ‘continue this financial impact’.
Murdo Fraser, Scots Tory Covid recovery spokesman, said: ‘Powers to close schools and release prisoners early are rightly extremely controversial and shouldn’t be kept a moment longer than necessary.’
A Government spokesman said: ‘The proposed public health protection measures bring Scotland into line with England and Wales.’
‘Concerns about public safety and well-being’