Prostitution Scotland: Proposals to overhaul law fall at the first hurdle
Six SNP MSPs voted against the government, but it was not enough to see Ash Regan MSP’s bill pass
MSPs have been accused of "choosing cowardice over action” after blocking proposals to overhaul prostitution law at the first hurdle.
Six SNP backbenchers rebelled against the government on the vote, but it was not enough to pass and the bill fell by 64 votes to 54.
Ms Regan said: “Today, parliament chose cowardice over action - despite overwhelming evidence, survivor testimony and support from police, prosecutors and international experts.
“Inaction is not neutral. It is a decision, and it has consequences. Those who voted against criminalising the perpetrators of violence against women, which the government’s own policy names prostitution as, have a stain on their parliamentary voting record.”
The Nordic model would have criminalised the buying of sex while criminalising the selling of sex, and introduced support to help women exit prostitution.
However those who had campaigned against the bill say the vote is a “huge win for our rights and dignity”.
Amelia, who describes herself as a Scottish sex worker, said: “I finally feel heard by the MSPs who voted against the bill.
“I hope we can continue fighting for resources that sex workers deserve, not ones that are decided for them.
“I’m relieved that me and my colleagues won't have to face more unsafe working conditions but the fight isn’t over yet.
“The current laws don’t protect us either, so we will be back in the parliament again soon.”
Laura Baillie, political officer for the campaign group Scotland for Decrim, added: “This is a huge win for the rights and dignity of sex workers.
“We know that this bill would have increased violence against women, while doing nothing to tackle the underlying reasons why people enter sex work - primarily poverty.”
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