THE Labour peer who suggested Westminster should consider rolling back devolution is "not alone" in his "contempt for Scottish democracy", the Scottish Greens have said.
George Foulkes, who is now a life peer after previously serving as Scotland secretary and as an MSP and MP, suggested on Friday that if the SNP refuses to cooperate with a Westminster probe into the party's finances, the UK Government should consider amending or removing some of Scotland's devolved powers.
He said: "Holyrood is a Parliament whose powers are devolved from Westminster and can be amended or even withdrawn by the UK Parliament
"If the SNP continue to act irresponsibly and illegally on financial matters then that is something that should be considered."
Holyrood is a Parliament whose powers are devolved from Westminster and can be amended or even withdrawn by the UK Parliament. If the SNP continue to act irresponsibly and illegally on financial matters then that is something that should be considered. https://t.co/oy1hkIuVSz
— George Foulkes (@GeorgeFoulkes) June 5, 2026
Now, Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay has hit out at the peer, slamming his comments as "ridiculous".
She said: “There is a great irony in an unelected Lord questioning the legitimacy of the Scottish Parliament.
“But we know Lord Foulkes is not alone. There are plenty of people in Westminster who have contempt for Scottish democracy.
“These ridiculous comments show why it is crucial that we achieve independence to have the full powers and autonomy of a normal country.
Foulkes previously told the BBC in 2023 that the UK is not a "Union of equals” and it was never meant to be, instead saying it is a “myth that has been put around by the SNP ”.
He also said that there should be "consequences" for the Scottish Government if it spends money in reserved areas, alleging the SNP was "illegally spending" money on projects like independence referendum studies.
Mackay went on to say: "It would also give us the added bonus of being free from an archaic and unaccountable House of Lords that thinks it knows better than MSPs and the people who elected us.
“Devolution should not be treated as some sort of reward Westminster have given us here in Scotland.
"We are a country that deserves to make its own decisions without fear that another government will step in to block the will of the Scottish people.”
Foulkes's comments come after an SNP source told the Daily Record that the party would not be obliged to take part in a Westminster financial probe if one was initiated.
Tory MP Harriet Cross and Labour MP Douglas McAllister – who are both members of the Scottish Affairs Committee – have said the Westminster body could hold the inquiry if the Scottish Parliament does not
Cross, the MP for Gordon and Buchan, said: “I will be encouraging other parties on the Scottish Affairs Committee to back an inquiry in an effort to unearth the details and answers the public deserve.”
McAllister, the MP for West Dunbartonshire, added: “My preference is for the Scottish Parliament to investigate. However, if Holyrood fails to hold an inquiry then the Scottish Affairs Committee should do so.
“The SNP have received taxpayers' cash through short money."
John Swinney has repeatedly rejected calls for an independent investigation.
The First Minister has insisted no investigation would be “more detailed” than the one carried out by Police Scotland.
