THE SNP gave their MSPs licence to vote against the Government on reforming gender recognition law, one of the party’s prominent rebels against the law change bid has said.
Glasgow Shettleston MSP John Mason is among those who defied the SNP whip last week but told The National he expected no action to come from the rebellion – the party’s biggest in their 15 years in government.
George Adam, who enforces party discipline for the SNP, told his MSPs they must vote for the bill – an instruction ignored by some.
But Mason claimed MSPs were told they would not have to support the Government if they discussed it with the whips office beforehand.
Nine SNP representatives either voted against the Gender Recognition Reform Bill on Thursday or did not vote, with former minister Ash Regan quitting her government post of community safety minister over the plans.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accepted Regan's resignation but said the former minister had not indicated she felt unable to vote with the Government prior to quitting.
The legislation – which passed its first stage with cross-party support – aims to make it easier for transgender people to change their sex on official documents such as their birth certificates.
Mason said he had spoken with the party whips at a meeting of the Holyrood parliamentary group before the vote and indicated he would not support the bill.
He told this paper: “It is clear in the standing orders and it was confirmed at the group meeting on Tuesday that there is scope for individual MSPs to vote against government policy after discussion with the whips.
“I believe most of my colleagues had been in touch with the whips after that meeting, e.g. in my case by email, and verbally for others.
“It is also worth noting that the whips gave me a speaking slot yesterday knowing fairly well what I would say.
“Therefore, I am hoping this can be treated as a one-off and exceptional situation and we can go back to normal business with the vast majority of topics in parliament.”
Two Tory MSPs – Sandesh Gulhane and Jamie Greene – voted against the majority of their colleagues and supported the bill.
The vast majority of SNP MSPs voted to support the legislation but Regan, Mason, Stephanie Callaghan, Fergus Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Ruth Maguire and Michelle Thomson all voted against the bill. Jim Fairlie and Annabelle Ewing abstained.
The SNP were approached for comment.
