Since the UK Internal Market Bill was introduced as part Brexit the UK Government has been given much greater abilities to block the Scottish Government and roll back devolution. GRR and the DRS are two examples of this happening.

The Internal Market Bill was just one part of the lies and exclusion that Scotland experienced after Brexit. See the graphic image Brexit Lies for more details.

DRS

DRS – the Scottish Deposit & Return Scheme – was widely consulted on for many years by the Scottish Government. It would have significantly reduced plastic and glass waste and mirrored schemes successfully introduced in many other European countries.

It had cross-party support – including MSPs from all the unionist parties – and was passed by the Scottish Parliament to become law. Following last minute lobbying (and donations) from the Tory-friendly wine and spirits industry, the UK Government opposed it and enacted a “Section 35” order to kill it.

GRR

GRR – Scotland’s Gender Recognition Reform – was also widely consulted on for many years by the Scottish Government. It would have significantly modernised the process for people to identify their gender and was widely welcomed by the LGBTQ+ and trans communities as a humane and progressive bill. It also mirrored schemes successfully introduced in other countries.

GRR was passed by the Scottish Parliament with large cross-party support but, as with DRR, GRR was vetoed by the UK Government using its new “Section 35” powers. But unlike DRR, the Tory UK Government used it as an opportunity to cause division – using it to present “gender recognition” as some sort of “woke” left wing agenda to deny the reality of biological sex.