THE Buffer Zones Bill has been given the green light for formal introduction and will be brought forward after summer recess has finished, the MSP behind the legislation has said.
Before the Scottish Parliament broke up for summer, a majority of MSPs signed the final proposal for the legislation which would allow the introduction of no protest zones outside of abortion healthcare clinics.
Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay, who has been spearheading the Safe Access Zones (Scotland) Bill, announced on Twitter she had been given the “formal right” to introduce the bill to the Scottish Parliament.
We previously told how the final proposal reached the quota for the number of MSPs to support it within 30 minutes of the proposals being published and FMQs finishing.
And now, Mackay has revealed that the legislation will continue to move through parliament once MSPs return after summer. The bill must be assigned to a committee that will scrutinise its contents, as it moves through the different parliamentary stages.
However, with a majority of cross-party MSPs on side it is likely to easily pass through the formal process.
Mackay (pictured above) said: “I’m delighted that today we’ve received the official right to introduce this legislation. With the backing of 4 out of 5 party leaders, including the First Minister, we will now bring the Bill forward as quickly as possible on the return from summer recess.
“It’s time to put an end to the harassment and intimidation we've seen outside abortion service providers, and today is a key milestone in that journey.
“I want to thank all the organisations, groups and colleagues who have supported this Bill and helped us get to this point.“
Back Off Scotland co-founder Alice Murray told The National she was delighted with the news.
“I’m over the moon that the bill has gained sufficient parliamentary support and received formal confirmation that it can be lodged," she said.
“I’m very proud of the work that we [Back Off Scotland] has achieved over the past three years in gaining solid cross-party support for this bill which has been pivotal in receiving this confirmation.
“This is a really positive step and I look forward to seeing an initial draft of the bill soon so we can get this vital piece of legislation passed as soon as possible.”
We previously told how Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross (pictured above) dodged signing the final proposal for the Buffer Zones Bill, making him the only party leader to do so.
First Minister Humza Yousaf, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, as well as Greens co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater have all shown support for the legislation.
In order for Mackay to lodge the bill, she needed it to be signed by 18 MSPs, but smashed through the target within 30 minutes of her proposals being published.
Mackay said at the time she was grateful to MSPs who showed support and the “amazing show of unity” from across parliament.
The legislation would allow the introduction of 150 meter no protest zones outside of hospitals and other medical facilities which provide abortion healthcare services.
It comes after a rise in anti-abortion protests, organised by evangelical group 40 Days for Life, outside of abortion clinics.
