Respect to Ash Regan for today in the Scottish Parliament.

[ArabellaScott]

'The state has a duty to protect women and girls from sexual exploitation by abusive, dangerous men. If it does not act, I am afraid that all members will be complicit in that harm.
As I look around the chamber this evening, I see some MSPs sitting here who know that they should register an interest, but I am sure that they will not, for varying reasons. The vote on the bill is not a conscience vote, but I believe that it should be, as such votes have been for other members’ bills. I also see former colleagues and friends on the benches who I know back the bill and support the principle. I wonder whether they will have the courage to say so with their votes—I hope that they will.
Millicent Fawcett famously said, “Courage calls to courage”. The most courageous people in the Parliament today are the survivors of prostitution. They have called to us all. They have bared their deepest trauma and shame in the hope that we will listen to them and in the hope that we will save the next wee girls who are targeted to have their bodies accessed by entitled, abusive sex buyers. Will you finally heed their call to courage? Will you listen to and act for them? MSPs who hide behind the polished lies that are directly out of the sex trade handbook should be ashamed, frankly.
I want to address the point of harm. The only thing that would be harmed by my bill is the sex trade, and there is no excuse not to apply critical thinking and research to this debate, as other legislatures, even in the UK, have done and have told us about. They are watching this Parliament today.'

https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/recent-publication?meeting=20044&iob=201937

The Bill was voted down at Stage 1, by 64 to 54 votes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqj2n7ylrgyo

As I understand it they wouldn’t have been able to get the Bill over the line before parliament rests next month. There’s already a huge diet of legislation they’re trying to get through sitting at stage 2 and 3, including two very chunky/tricky bills. This would be another, far from straightforward Bill to try and push through. From people I’ve spoken to it’s more about timing than anything else - stage 2 and three for the Bill would need more time than there is left in this session. Not saying it’s right but it can be represented in the new parliament.

I think that by supporting the Bill, even though it may fail for lack of parliamentary time, a message is sent and it can be reintroduced after the elections.

So it should have been supported, and shame on the SNP members and the few others.

I don’t disagree, and while I have every respect for Ash Regan, she will be very aware the Bill would time out at this stage of parliament, and that there was no capacity to get it through even stage 2, but the civil service would need to try.

She needed to bring it earlier, or wait til the new parliament if it had any chance of success. The cynic in me thinks she’s playing politics as much as the others, in that she knew it would time out but that it would potentially light a fire under voters just ahead of an election.

I'll just leave this here.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-67802849

"A law that makes paying for sexual services a crime in Northern Ireland has led to just one conviction since 2015, new figures show."

From the Scottish Parliament's website -

'Stage 1: general principles

At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.'

Not a random agreement but a specific vote on the general principles of this Bill.

The general principle of the Bill being 'creating a new offence of paying for sexual acts'

If if Bill had been passed, it would have moved to Stage 2. where 'At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them' (from the Scottish Parliament website - it really is a handy wee website)

And if MSP's don't agree with the general principles and vote against it, then fine. At least they've got the courage of their convictions. Apart from those cowed by a party whip of course....

But to say ' I believe in the general principles but I'm not going to vote for it' is cowardice.

The SNP say they may relook at it if they're returned to Parliament. When they have time.

Aye right

Did she not? There were no abstentions

There was enough time , the SNP had parliament sitting until 12 midnight on one day during the GRC bill hearing!
What should have happened is extend the debate yesterday, by an hour , pass the bill at this first stage, and sort out any issues with it at 2nd stage.

Looking forward to dishing out a massive rant as to why I won’t be voting SNP to the canvassers coming to my front door. This, genderwang will be top of my list. A baby box does not cut it when weighed up against this utter betrayal of women.

Yes I'm aware.

For the poster above who suggested AR knew it would fail but was playing some sort of strategic games ahead of election, no disrespect meant but I personally don't think she's smart enough to think of and pull something like that off well.

When asked on her views about the potential for her bill to cause sex work to go underground, she thought that was meant literally... (and yes, people are laughing) https://spectator.com/article/ash-regans-prostitution-blunder/

There needs to be space in committee to consider stage 2 amendments - and there would be lots to consider. One bill currently sitting at stage 2 has over 200 amendments which all need to be considered by committee. Committees are already sitting late into the night from now til parliament rests dealing with current stage 2 and stage 3. This Bill would need significant consideration and there would be a lot of amendments to go through. Good legislation needs time, and there’s no time.

I mean, you're obviously not aware because you claimed in your last post that saying that you support the general principles just means that you 'believe in a perfect world where there is no prostitution' which is not the case. It is a vote specifically for the general principles of this Bill.

Since when was the Scotgov concerned with passing 'good' legislation? Theyre intent on banning shit that doesnt exist. I actually think they're scared to pass effectual law. What they want is faux law they can posture about, because taking any real action has consequences, and they are not equipped tp foresee or handle these..

Same. I really don't give a shit how many men have been prosecuted elsewhere, or whatever other bollocks excuses they come up with, our politicians had the opportunity to send a very clear message that they agree that women cannot be bought and they chose not to take it. They do not care about women.

It's so depressing that this bill, which is a good bill and should of course be voted through as a no brainer, is blocked by petty grievances. All those petty women especially who voted against it, how DARE they betray other women like that just because it's Ash's bill? I see "decapitate terfs" is on the against list, as are "no proof men would pretend to be something they are not to be predatory", "I'm a real feminist", "I have a personality disorder", "children should be transed from age 8" are also on the list. Evil, evil hypocrites and betrayers of ALL women.

I'm so angry about this. The one thing, the ONE thing that would have been a good legacy, to eradicate this evil, exploitative trade in women's bodies, particularly vulnerable women, and these privileged women chose to put the knife in. I'd say more angry words but my post may be deleted!!!!

Unfortunately, I recognise each of those political epitaphs. Could also add 'greeted her way through a speech'.

They've made their legacy.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25823164.regan-tells-women-not-vote-snp-unbuyable-bill-defeat/

Ash points out that greyhounds appear to be considered more worthy of protection than women in Scotland.

Ugh the comments underneath that herald Scotland article by men minimising the impact of prostitution and framing it as "men who can't get girlfriends need sex" is despicable. I already have a low opinion of men in general. These comments are not helping.

My thanks to her for trying, I too was cheered that 54 voted for, but I'm disgusted that 64 voted against, and the reasons they voted against is the worse part it of it all.
We don't have politics any more just tribalism.

IDK if that's why JB didn't vote but on several issues I am tired of politicians putting indulgence of their own daft brats ahead of the common good.

Maggie Chapman's contribution is worth recording:

'The Scottish Greens support workers—retail workers, hospitality workers, healthcare workers, care workers and, yes, sex workers, because sex work is work. It might not be work that one agrees with. It might not be work that one would ever do. One might never procure the services of a sex worker, but some people do that work. Many of them do it of their own free will. They find it meaningful and fulfilling work. It earns them a good living and puts food on their table.
...

Ruth Maguire

If prostitution is work like any other work, should we be offering it as work experience for young people? Should folk who are jobseekers have their benefits taken away if they refuse to do it?

Maggie Chapman

It is a different kind of work. Lots of types of work are not offered for work experience, to use the example that the member gives.'
...
Scotland for Decrim argues that only by fully removing punitive laws do sex workers gain “the power to choose when and how we work”, which is the power and the dignity of their labour that all workers should have.
Sex workers simply ask for that same treatment. As a Scottish Green, I believe deeply in harm reduction, social justice and bodily autonomy. Where sex work happens between consenting adults, I believe that the state should support them'

😜

And here is part of Michelle Thomson's contribution (warning, graphic)

'I accord respect to the women who are in the gallery today. The life that they live is thus. They are systematically raped, vaginally, anally and orally, multiple times a day. They are spat on, ejaculated on, urinated on and sometimes defecated on. They suffer repeated abrasions and injuries to their vagina and anus, often requiring medical treatment, are at a high risk of being slapped or punched and are 18 times more likely to be murdered. They are strangled, potentially until they are unconscious and often without even knowing that that is happening. They are verbally abused by the people who pay for access to their bodies and are at a high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and other serious infections. They lose most of their earnings to the pimp who is controlling them and become addicted to mind-numbing substances simply to endure the disassociation and develop complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Even if they escape, they struggle for the rest of their life to form trusting relationships with men. On the upside, they will learn that their most valued skill is performing, because their rapists require them to act as though they enjoy what is being done to them.
On that basis, who here would argue that that should be regularised? Who here would argue for the protection of abusers rather than of the women themselves, and who here would tell a constituent who cannot afford to put food in her mouth that the solution is to put male members in her mouth? No one.
We have privilege. The reality of prostitution will never permeate our lives, but it permeates the lives of the poor, the dispossessed, the trafficked, the vulnerable, the addicted, the homeless—the ones with no voice: exactly the people we are meant to speak for here. Is the extent of our collective ambition to make Scotland a better place that we will simply accept the entitlement of some men to demand the purchase of women?'

Maggie Chapman:

'Criminalisation is not a gift of protection. It is a threat to the rights of working people.'

Let's call them what they are, supporters, aiders and abetters of rape.

Another 'sex work is work' moron, I take it, since she voted against the Bill. Or does she mean the men who buy women to rape? Because that is who she is protecting, not the exploited women.
Prostitution and violence go together. There is no way to make it safe for the women being exploited but the Nordic Model does make buying sex less attractive and offers a way out of their exploitation for the prostituted women.

Back the sex and porn industry is not a good look, either.

Also, the ten MSPs who did not vote. They did not need to be there in person in order to vote. Ten votes would have swung it.