A Week in Parliament

2021

Happy New Year. Unfortunately, it has started the way it finished except for even tighter restrictions due to covid-19. However, there is no doubt it was necessary. The Scottish Government had already planned for Tier 4 but tightened this up further. Compare this to the UK Government, who had to “create” a Tier 4; added some areas in; said schools had to return on January 4th; made them return against all recommendations and then panicked and announced lockdown and school closures. The contrast in governance is an eye-opener.

Virtual Parliament

It was a sign of how bad things are in England (London really), when the UK Government put in place a hybrid Parliament for its recall, allowing virtual participation. Bizarrely, they still will not allow remote voting. This means that while I and hundreds of MPs may register for a proxy vote, we need to have our proxy in Westminster to cast votes. They have also moved to a hybrid Parliament for the lockdown period, in the main chamber but not Westminster Hall, again defying logic. I will be trying to work from home as much as possible given that I can still participate in the main debates if selected.

The “Deal”

The UK Government’s tactics were clear – get something agreed – anything will do and then present it to parliament as a choice between this deal or no deal. Labour fell for it hook line and sinker – Keir Starmer destroyed the deal in his speech while saying Labour would actively vote for it. The proposals were so bad the SNP voted against. [Technically we were voting against enabling legislation as the UK Government had already signed the actual international treaty.] The reality is that this “deal” is a minor step up to a no-deal – there are no tariffs added to goods but that’s about it. The paperwork and additional checks are a formalisation of what would have happened under a no-deal. Incredibly, many Scottish fishermen will have less access to some fishing stocks than they do at present! The west coast fishermen who the UK Government completely ignored, are struggling to get their products to market. Even Marks and Spencer have warned the additional paperwork and checks is causing harm. I would say you couldn’t make this stuff up, but it was foreseeable with such an incompetent Government.

Trump

Leaders should lead responsibly. The scenes in the US as Trump Supporters tried to take over the Congress Buildings and overthrow democracy were shocking. Incited completely by Trump, who said at the rally beforehand he would march them down to the Capitol buildings. Obviously, as a blowhard, he didn’t. He then hid and watched proceedings, while his so-called attempts for calm just inflamed those “believers” more. Good riddance to him. It is shameful that this is the man Boris Johnson and his cronies wanted re-elected. The company you keep says a lot about your integrity.

Vaccination

On a positive note, it is good to see the vaccination programmes kicking in, and a third vaccination approved for use.