Frances Curran MSP tonight slammed as a “Democratic outrage.” A decision by the Scottish Parliament’s communities committee to block the progress of her Free School Meals Bill claiming there is not enough time to deal with it.
“The letter may be signed by Karen Whitefield communities committee convenor but it has the fingerprints of Jack McConnell all over it.”
“I have not the slightest doubt that this is the work of a Scottish Executive running scared of an idea whose time has come. The Bill has the support of scores of children’s, educational and other bodies and the support of thousands of Scots.”
“This crude blocking makes a mockery of the claims that Holyrood is an open democratic parliament and is a shameful denial of democracy.”
“I warn Jack McConnell and the Scottish Executive that they have bitten off more than they can chew and that they will face a massive backlash on this issue.”
“I will be urgently raising this with Presiding Officer George Reid who has duty to guard the rights of the parliament from this type of crude manoeuvring.”
“I am also urgently seeking to convene a meeting of the campaign groups supporting the Bill which takes in a large range of campaigning and expert opinion and am sure that they will be as angry as me about this shabby move.”
“I can promise that there will be major public campaign to reverse this crude attempt to subvert democratic discussion of the Bill and force the politicians to listen to the people on this key issue.”
Petition for street campaigning (PDF file)
Source: Scottish Socialist Party
SSP MSP Frances Curran Speaks on the Free School Meals Bill
SSP MSP Frances Curran- Free School Meals Bill Part 2
SSP MSP Frances Curran- Free School Meals Bill Part 3
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