SECTION 35 of the Scotland Act “has to go” if a UK Labour government is serious about constitutional change, the Deputy First Minister has said.
John Swinney told The National that proposals put forward by Keir Starmer’s party to embed the Sewel Convention – which says Westminster will not normally legislate in devolved areas without Holyrood’s consent – into law would not go far enough as long as Section 35 exists.
The controversial clause in the Scotland Act gives the Scottish Secretary the power to unilaterally block bills passed by the Scottish Parliament if they have “reasonable grounds” to think the law may adversely affect reserved areas.
