Scottish Parliament final debate on Gender Recognition Reform today

[ArabellaScott]

At some point after 2pm, in the Big Room (the Chamber).

www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/whats-on-and-watch-live/whats-on#wm

Will be interesting to see how the Amendments go down, if they are all struck down as the ScotGov wishes - www.holyrood.com/news/view,gender-recognition-reform-crunch-vote-after-shona-robison-warns-msps-over-amendments

'the Scottish Conservatives have warned that the debate could lead to a "travesty of democracy" because a 15 minute time limit for each proposal will "shut down" discussion.'

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64032916

Yes, should be up tomorrow, I think.

Is crazy they are sitting so long & late the week of Christmas-why is NS in such a hurry? what is she scared of?

DR asking when Rachel Hamilton's amendment would have to be submitted to have been allowed as it resulted from the Haldane ruling & therefore short window. Stuff about the committee listening to some witnesses twice but no time for others etc could/should vote be delayed into new year

Comfort break, short suspension

As someone said upthread NS doesn’t want to lose Kate Forbes who is back from maternity leave in the new year so she may have to vote. It would be interesting to see how she squares that with her Christian principles.

Trying to get it through while Kate Forbes is still on maternity leave?

One suggested reason is they want it passed before Kate Forbes comes back from maternity leave.

A more likely reason is they want it passed before the general public find out what they're doing.

But the late sitting is making all the headlines, so it may have backfired.

TBH, as someone who is of the same denomination as Kate Forbes I often wonder why she hasn't resigned her ministerial role already.

Sturgeon needs Forbes more than Forbes needs Sturgeon. Forbes is still very young, whereas Sturgeon is on her way out. It might serve her well to spend a while as a backbencher and avoid being associated with this mess.

Yes I don’t know how her conscience allows it.

I'm confused too. How can asking for more time to debate matters be contempt of parliament?

Pink News. I mean, I know I shouldn't be surprised. But even they are on the side of Sex Offenders.

www.thepinknews.com/2022/12/21/scotland-tories-filibuster-gender-recognition-reform-trans/

Deputy PO was saying that DR was questioning the PO's decision repeatedly - wilful misunderstanding IMO DR was very clear he was asking if PO had had all the information when she made the decision

It would be great if the women of Scotland en masse applied for a GRC and completely messed up the process. Then changed their minds shortly afterwards ..then changed again..

This isn’t going to get done tonight is it?

They’ve been sitting over 6 hours on amendments timetabled to take 2 to 2.5 hours and there’s loads more after this batch.

I haven't been keeping up with this as I've been working but if it's not over yet I hope there are as many hurdles as possible thrown in the works to slow it down until people see sense.

3..2..1 and we're back in the room.

And I hope the SNP & Greens continue to complain about all the amendments having to be discussed because it really shows how they want to avoid scrutiny. Maybe it will convince some of the public that they can't be trusted.

Motion to approve an SSI. I don't know what that is.

Moving items of business to tomorrow afternoon.

Isn’t it fascinating that this government that is supposedly all about progressive values and promoting dignity and such like is … erm … totally disregarding the needs of disabled MSPs to push through legislation just before Christmas.

For legislation that is not even vaguely urgent, never mind an emergency.

I am none the wiser after reading this

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_statutory_instrument

An SSI is a type of statutory instrument

archive2021.parliament.scot/S5_Delegated_Powers/SSI_Infographic.pdf

This link is more helpful than Wikipedia www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/secondary-legislation/

Apparently another 5 hours to go.