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Though all eyes were on Holyrood this week as a new First Minister was elected, there was no shortage of terrible news coming out of the Houses of Parliament. Here's this week's round-up...
Peer gets top ministerial role
Rishi Sunak kicked off the week by handing a top ministerial role to a hereditary peer for the third time in three months.
Timothy Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, the “Earl of Minto”, was made a minister in the Department for Business and Trade.
Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound joined the Lords in October 2022 after coming second in a by-election to replace two Tory hereditary peers who had retired in July. He received a whopping…34 votes.
He becomes the third hereditary Lord to be brought into Sunak’s government since the beginning of 2023 after James Younger and Jonathan Berry. The SNP’s Tommy Sheppard said it was proof the entire House of Lords is “an edifice of ill repute”.
The UK Government’s ‘Green Day’
The week has been packed with energy news as the UK Government announced a series of measures and investments in a bid to reach environmental targets in its so-called 'Green Day'.
Senior SNP leaders hit out at the “complete lack of credible detail” for Scotland’s Acorn project after Energy Secretary Grant Shapps’s announcement included a commitment to increased carbon capture usage and storage.
Westminster said that, at this stage, it considers the Acorn Transport and Storage System in Aberdeenshire one of the two best-placed to deliver its objectives, but SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said there was a lack of detail on when it would given the green light to progress.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said the UK Government had “relegated” the Acorn project at FMQs.
The Scottish Greens also urged the UK Government to shelve its "ill thought out" plans to expand nuclear power and allow further oil and gas exploration.
Last November, the Government announced the establishment of Great British Nuclear – a body which is meant to support the industry – and on Thursday, it announced the names of the two experts who will lead the agency and said it would be based in the Greater Manchester area.
And the UK Government refused to commit to stopping the development of Rosebank oil and gas field north of the Shetland Islands. Scientists have warned approving Rosebank would make it much more challenging to limit the global average temperature to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
When asked by Labour’s Richard Burgon whether the Tories would use their powers to halt development, climate change minister Graham Stuart said fossil fuels will still be required for decades to come and that it is better to produce gas on the UK Continental Shelf than import it from other countries.
Critics have said that Norwegian oil giant Equinor, which has operating rights and made more than £23 billion in profits last year, is under no obligation to sell its oil and gas to the UK and will do so to the highest bidder.
Laughing gas to be axed
The Tories have announced plans to ban laughing gas which is likely to take effect north of the Border despite the Scottish Government saying it doesn’t support the move.
Drugs policy is reserved so although the SNP Government has said it supports recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs – that an outright ban would be disproportionate – the law is likely to be imposed on Scots.
The Home Office said it would be up to Police Scotland how to enforce any ban though as policing is devolved.
This loophole is what the Scottish Government has previously said it will look at exploring when it comes to combating the drugs deaths crisis through measures such as safe consumption spaces.
AOB
- Keir Starmer said he didn’t feel bad for blocking Jeremy Corbyn from standing as a Labour MP at the next election. The block was approved by the party’s National Executive Committee on Tuesday. Starmer said he was prepared to be “ruthless to ensure a Labour government”. Corbyn hit back saying he is “not going anywhere”.
- Former Scottish Tory Secretary Lord Forsyth of Drumlean and Treasury minister Baroness Penn criticised Humza Yousaf’s decision to appoint a Minister for Independence, with the latter saying it shows “the Scottish Government’s priorities lie in the wrong place.
- Dominic Raab embarrassed himself after getting Paul O’Grady’s name wrong when paying tribute to the TV presenter after he died this week. Raab, who was filling in for Rishi Sunak during Wednesday’s PMQs, said “Paul Grayson” was an “incredible comic”.
