Monica Lennon's ecocide bill passes first vote but do backbench ideas show SNP running out of steam?
The two big pieces of legislation to
Labour MSP Monica Lennon’s legislation to outlaw ecocide in Scotland took its first step after MSPs backed her law in what she branded a “historic” move. But is it a sign the SNP government is running out of steam?
Ms Lennon, who has previously found Scottish government support for her legislation tackling period poverty, has arguably done more to push forward Scotland’s route to net zero with this bill than SNP ministers have since the last election.
That’s not to say that the SNP government didn’t once have big ideas on tackling the climate crisis. But since dumping the Scottish Greens out of office in April 2024, the SNP government’s record on the environment has been pretty mediocre.
The government’s initial plans to replace fossil fuel gas boilers with heat pumps and heat networks, once heralded as a template for the rest of the UK by independent advisers, are being watered down - with the legislation kicked into the long grass after May’s election.
The Scottish Government’s draft climate change plan has far less detail than the last version of the blueprint - with a whole host of unanswered questions remaining.
Ms Lennon has worked closely with SNP net zero secretary Gillian Martin on her ecocide plans
The proposed Ecocide (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill defines ecocide as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment of Scotland being caused by those acts”.
Under the plans, guilty executives would face between ten and 20 years in jail, while companies would be hit with financial sanctions worth up to 10 per cent of worldwide turnover.
Despite warnings there is not enough time to properly scrutinise her legislation before the Scottish Parliament dissolves for the election next month, both her and the cabinet secretary are adamant that the next phase can be “streamlined”.
READ MORE: The massive penalties public bodies and water companies would face for ecocide in Scotland
Ms Martin highlighted “significant flaws” in the existing legislation, but it’s understood she and Ms Lennon have already drafted amendments to update the law at the next stage.
Ms Lennon’s plans to outlaw ecocide highlight a trend of backbench MSPs bringing forward legislative ideas, absent from the thinking of the SNP government under John Swinney.
Mr Swinney’s strategy has been to steady the ship amid the turmoil caused by Humza Yousaf’s resignation, but are we seeing signs the SNP government is running out of steam?
In recent days, alongside Ms Lennon’s proposed legislation, MSPs have considered a members’ bills on prostitution, albeit fatally flawed, by Ash Regan.
Before Holyrood does rise for May’s crunch election, alongside the budget, two pieces of important legislation by backbenchers will have their final vote - Ms Lennon’s ecocide bill and Liam McArthur’s landmark assisted dying plans.
Whoever forms the next Scottish Government will surely not get away with sitting on its hands and letting backbenchers do all the work.
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