ALBA has today called for SNP MPs to join with their party to secure a debate and vote in the Commons on revoking “draconian” legislation to limit demonstrations outside Holyrood.
The cross-party Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), which manages the Holyrood estate, decided in June to get the building and its grounds the same security status as Westminster, royal palaces and military sites such as Faslane submarine base.
It asked the Home Office to make Holyrood a “designated site” on national security grounds, and an order was laid in the Commons last week under serious crime law and came into force on October 1.
The move was opposed in an emergency debate at last month’s SNP conference and has also been condemned by Amnesty International.
READ MORE: Holyrood protest curb: Demo to form 'ring of people' around Scottish Parliament
However, under parliamentary procedure such secondary legislation can be revoked 40 days within the order being laid as was the case on with regards to this measure on September 9. Recess days are not counted meaning opponents have until November 4 to get the policy scrapped.
Last month Neale Hanvey and his MP colleague and Alba Deputy Leader Kenny MacAskill tabled a motion to annul the order which was laid by the Home Secretary Priti Patel. It was signed by SNP MPs Joanna Cherry QC and Douglas Chapman.
Hanvey told The National: “I am today stepping up my call for all SNP MPs to support the Early Day Motion tabled in my name to annul the Home Office Order which came into force on Saturday.
“There is still time for this law to be revoked and ‘withdrawn’ as the SNP called for at its recent conference.
“There is absolutely no impediment or legitimate reason why any SNP MP should fail to support this call. Indeed two SNP MPs, Joanna Cherry and Douglas Chapman already have.
“I am delighted that both Joanna and Douglas have supported our move and signed the EDM and I call on all SNP MPs to unite with Alba to sign the motion so that we can have the debate and vote which is so desperately needed.
“The recent SNP conference passed a resolution expressing concern that these powers ‘seek to limit peaceful protest and urges Parliamentarians to call on SPCB that this order should be withdrawn in order that Scotland’s Parliament can continue to be seen to be a fully accessible part of Scottish representative democracy.’ I fully support those sentiments.
READ MORE: Scottish Parliament: Activists demand end to plans to restrict protests
“This law is both an affront to Scotland’s proud democratic traditions and a clear threat to civil liberties.
"There is an important point of principle at stake which is the right to freedom of assembly and association which is protected under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
“In addition the Home Secretary has no jurisdiction over the criminal justice system in Scotland and the police already have sufficient powers to allow them to police public demonstrations and protests and to protect the safety of MSPs and the public.
“It is time for Alba and the SNP to truly be stronger for Scotland and unite in demanding that there is a debate and vote in the House of Commons to revoke these draconian powers... If SNP MPs and MPs in other parties act now and sign this motion we can still have a debate and vote within the two week ‘weather window’ when the Commons resumes before the 4 November deadline.”
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