As the 1st stage debate on #Scotland's #ElectoralFranchiseBill kicks off I'll be live tweeting.
To pass the bill will require a 66% supermajority & proposes voting rights for prisoners (sentences <12mo), refugees, asylum seekers & 3rd country nationals/EU citizens (post-Brexit).
To pass the bill will require a 66% supermajority & proposes voting rights for prisoners (sentences <12mo), refugees, asylum seekers & 3rd country nationals/EU citizens (post-Brexit).
Worth bearing in mind: circa 200k EU citizens, 5k refugees asylum seekers and <1k eligible prisoners + ?k of 3rd country nationals.
This bill addresses the current non-compliance with EU Charter of Human rights.
This bill addresses the current non-compliance with EU Charter of Human rights.
The @Feorlean kicks off the debate with an opening statement.@ProfTomkins asks what value citizenship has if voting franchise is connected to residency rather than nationality. Mike Russel replies "The franchise always needs to move on.". 👏
@Feorlean @ProfTomkins "The current ban on prisoner voting rights is a violation of human rights and has been for several years" says @Feorlean.
While in essence, the <12month custodial sentence stance is the absolute minimum to circumvent CHR violation, @ProfTomkins thinks it's "unneccessarily" far
While in essence, the <12month custodial sentence stance is the absolute minimum to circumvent CHR violation, @ProfTomkins thinks it's "unneccessarily" far
@Feorlean @ProfTomkins "This bill makes first significant use of powers provided to @scotgov" @BillKiddSNP. He says this bill "removes barriers, disenfranchisement and barriers to integration". Spot on.
@Feorlean @ProfTomkins @scotgov @BillKiddSNP While he correctly states that EU citizens currently hold voting rights in Scotland he sadly fails to mention these voting rights are extended through EU law and without this bill would seize with Brexit, which would represent a new CHR violation for #Scotland.
@Feorlean @ProfTomkins @scotgov @BillKiddSNP On prisoner voting from @BillKiddSNP: Committee asks for more detail on why @scotgov settled on enfranchising prisoners with <12month custodial sentences, as very few people would be enfranchised by this bill given the recent recommendation against giving sentences of <12 months.
@Feorlean @ProfTomkins @scotgov @BillKiddSNP Tory MSP @jhalcrojohnston questioning whether this bill proposes the franchise for non-permanent residents and mentions Scots living and/or working abroad are not enfranchised. Seems to suggest only citizens ought to hold voting rights.
UK citizenship = £thousands. Votes4sale?
UK citizenship = £thousands. Votes4sale?
@Feorlean @ProfTomkins @scotgov @BillKiddSNP @jhalcrojohnston Interestingly, @jhalcrojohnston also suggests that because "the bar is very high" for prisoners to receive custodial sentences he questions the logic of extending voting rights to prisoners at all.
Y'know, other than it being a VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
Y'know, other than it being a VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
@Feorlean @ProfTomkins @scotgov @BillKiddSNP @jhalcrojohnston He now references how in Shetland prisoners franchise was "contentious".
NOTE: the number of prisoners in Shetland enfranchised was in the single digits.
NOTE: the number of prisoners in Shetland enfranchised was in the single digits.
@Feorlean @ProfTomkins @scotgov @BillKiddSNP @jhalcrojohnston Relieved to hear Labour's @Alex_RowleyMSP to welcome this franchise bill.
The supermajority requirement means the bill can only pass with @scottishlabour and @theSNP if Tories vote against. Labour manifesto commits to extending UK wide voting rights for all residents of the UK.
The supermajority requirement means the bill can only pass with @scottishlabour and @theSNP if Tories vote against. Labour manifesto commits to extending UK wide voting rights for all residents of the UK.
@ProfTomkins questioning what value citizenship has if it has no bearing on voting rights.
Value? Did you mean: "£Several thousand ££ to the UK Home Office."
Value? Did you mean: "£Several thousand ££ to the UK Home Office."
@ProfTomkins "The Scotland we are proud of is inclusive." says Greens MSP @markruskell, "The Settled Status scheme is an insult. [...] They deserve better. They deserve to represent all of us, if they choose to, also."
Very moving. Totally correct.
Very moving. Totally correct.
@ProfTomkins @markruskell Wondering whether @ProfTomkins will apologise for falsely suggesting that his assertion that prisoners voting rights were not specifically mentioned in the ECHR was "totally accurate and correct"? 😒
@ProfTomkins @markruskell Sounds like LibDem MSP @agcolehamilton is in full support of this bill. Makes a passionate case for the franchise pointng out only 50 years ago 18-year-olds were added to the franchise, which we all now take for granted.
@ProfTomkins @markruskell @agcolehamilton "As valued contributors to the society, New Scots should hold the voting franchise." says @maureenSNP. "What will, therefore, be important to inform them of their new rights, once they hold them, though some question whether there are sufficent funds.
BRILLIANT POINT... 👇
BRILLIANT POINT... 👇
Last year @euforindyscot, with the help of @ScotIndepFound, @mail_aye and @RogueCoder250 was able to distribute 500k of these English and Polish language flyers across all of Scotland on a shoe-string budget.
Happy to help with this at ANY time.
Happy to help with this at ANY time.
@euforindyscot @ScotIndepFound @mail_aye @RogueCoder250 Tory MSP @liamkerrMSP will oppose the bill based on the fact he doesn't wish to end the Human Rights Violation of refusing prisoners voting rights as a form of penalising inmates.
What a party line to follow!
What a party line to follow!
@euforindyscot @ScotIndepFound @mail_aye @RogueCoder250 @liamkerrMSP Extremely impressed with @StuMcMillanSNP's contribution. Correctly points out that while re: prisoners voting rights few would be enfranchised its a step in the right direction. And that many of his MSP colleagues won elections by a handful of votes.
#MakeEveryVoteCount
#MakeEveryVoteCount
@euforindyscot @ScotIndepFound @mail_aye @RogueCoder250 @liamkerrMSP @StuMcMillanSNP Re: Scots abroad not being 'allowed' to participate in Scottish elections:
I am still eligible to vote in Germany - and chose NOT TO in the belief it is for those who live there to determine the country's future. Currently discussing with @Germans4indyref to vote swap for GEs.
I am still eligible to vote in Germany - and chose NOT TO in the belief it is for those who live there to determine the country's future. Currently discussing with @Germans4indyref to vote swap for GEs.
@euforindyscot @ScotIndepFound @mail_aye @RogueCoder250 @liamkerrMSP @StuMcMillanSNP @Germans4indyref "At every stage of the way the Tories have voted against extending the voting franchise" says @zsstevens - @ProfTomkins attempts to argue that in the 19th century the Tories indeed voted for extending the franchise at some point, apparently hoping for goose quill transcription.
@euforindyscot @ScotIndepFound @mail_aye @RogueCoder250 @liamkerrMSP @StuMcMillanSNP @Germans4indyref @zsstevens @ProfTomkins Interestingly, Labour MSP @NeilFindlay_MSP seems to have concerns around funding for advertising voter registration - Labour's manifesto released last week calls for automatic registration - infrastructure set-up costs would be a one-off, after that limited. Discuss!
@euforindyscot @ScotIndepFound @mail_aye @RogueCoder250 @liamkerrMSP @StuMcMillanSNP @Germans4indyref @zsstevens @ProfTomkins @NeilFindlay_MSP Re: prisoners voting rights and <12months limit of franchise Mr Findlay also says that this bill "gives with one hand and takes away with another" due to recommendation of not giving custodial sentences of less <12moths.
He is not wrong. Will see where 2nd & 3rd stage leads.
He is not wrong. Will see where 2nd & 3rd stage leads.
@euforindyscot @ScotIndepFound @mail_aye @RogueCoder250 @liamkerrMSP @StuMcMillanSNP @Germans4indyref @zsstevens @ProfTomkins @NeilFindlay_MSP I have pointed this out to my local Labour MSP but haven't heard back.
None the less, I'm confident between @scotgp, @scottishlabour, @theSNP and @scotlibdems this is an amendment the Scottish parliament is perfectly able to introduce to the bill.
None the less, I'm confident between @scotgp, @scottishlabour, @theSNP and @scotlibdems this is an amendment the Scottish parliament is perfectly able to introduce to the bill.
@euforindyscot @ScotIndepFound @mail_aye @RogueCoder250 @liamkerrMSP @StuMcMillanSNP @Germans4indyref @zsstevens @ProfTomkins @NeilFindlay_MSP @scotgp @scottishlabour @theSNP @scotlibdems Astounded by the level of 'birthright' and 'citizenship' arguments from Tory MSPs, given they consider the Scottish Government 'nationalists'.
This debate is a huge slip of the mask - Tories arguing for continued Human Rights Violations, against democratic franchise & equality.
This debate is a huge slip of the mask - Tories arguing for continued Human Rights Violations, against democratic franchise & equality.
@euforindyscot @ScotIndepFound @mail_aye @RogueCoder250 @liamkerrMSP @StuMcMillanSNP @Germans4indyref @zsstevens @ProfTomkins @NeilFindlay_MSP @scotgp @scottishlabour @theSNP @scotlibdems Now back to @Feorlean for closing: @Scotgov is obliged to make changes to the electoral franchise and argues their proposal will stand up to legal challenge in a way UK franchise may well not.
@euforindyscot @ScotIndepFound @mail_aye @RogueCoder250 @liamkerrMSP @StuMcMillanSNP @Germans4indyref @zsstevens @ProfTomkins @NeilFindlay_MSP @scotgp @scottishlabour @theSNP @scotlibdems @Feorlean @scotgov Decision time brought forward; moved to vote.
Result: YES 63 No 18 - Bill agreed.
(That vote took less than 2 minutes. Let's remember in WM this would have taken a minimum of 30 minutes and shuffling down the corridors).
Result: YES 63 No 18 - Bill agreed.
(That vote took less than 2 minutes. Let's remember in WM this would have taken a minimum of 30 minutes and shuffling down the corridors).
@euforindyscot @ScotIndepFound @mail_aye @RogueCoder250 @liamkerrMSP @StuMcMillanSNP @Germans4indyref @zsstevens @ProfTomkins @NeilFindlay_MSP @scotgp @scottishlabour @theSNP @scotlibdems @Feorlean @scotgov This is a crucial point that sadly wasn't made in the debate today. While 55k people will gain the right to vote, 200k #EUnationals in Scotland will *not lose their rights* to vote and stand for election here.
