The SNP has said the Tory UK Internal Market bill is a ‘Trojan Horse’ bill which could open Scotland’s NHS and water up to the kind of creeping privatisation already seen in England.
Ahead of the second reading today [Monday 14th], Ian Blackford urged MPs to get behind the cross-party amendment to reject the bill – warning it would give the Tory government the power to overrule the Scottish Parliament in devolved areas including giving private health and water companies the right to unhindered trade in Scotland.
The SNP Westminster Leader said the Tory government’s willingness to break the law and an international treaty it signed up to just a few months ago proved it could not be trusted.
Earlier this month, Scotland marked the 23rd anniversary of the vote for a Scottish Parliament, while a seventh poll in a row found majority support for independence.
The Survation poll published last week found the majority for independence up at 53% (+3).
Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP said:
“This Tory power grab is a Trojan Horse Bill, which could open Scotland’s NHS and water services up to the kind of creeping privatisation and deregulation that we are already seeing under the Tories in England.
“The whole thrust of Boris Johnson’s bill is to restrict devolved policy choices and impose Westminster decisions on Scotland.
“It includes a Trojan Horse clause to allow Tory ministers to encroach in the future even further on devolution against the will of the Scottish Parliament.
“This bill must be stopped in its tracks.
“The Tory government has proven time and again that it cannot be trusted.
“It freely admits it is willing to break international law, impose an extreme Brexit, and destroy the foundations of Scotland’s devolution settlement.
“If Westminster won’t stop this unprecedented attack on devolution, it will demonstrate beyond all doubt that the only way to protect Scotland’s democratic powers, our NHS, and our place in Europe is to become an independent country.”
