Exclusive:Labour in hypocrisy row after 'wrecking amendment' tabled to block sexual offences court
Scottish Labour is facing a hypocrisy row after a manifesto pledge emerged.
Scottish Labour has been accused of "yet another broken promise” after the party tabled “wrecking amendments” to a Bill that will create a specific sexual offences court despite Anas Sarwar vowing to introduce one last year.
MSPs are poised to vote on the Scottish Government’s flagship Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill that will abolish the not proven verdict, increase a jury majority to two thirds as well as a host of other reforms.
The legislation will also allow for a specific sexual offences court to be established, which SNP Justice Secretary Angela Constance has suggested will help reduce the backlog of trials in the Scottish court system.
Labour’s Pauline McNeill will table amendments intended to halt that part of the legislation and se up an internal structure, despite Ms Constance warning this will fail to alleviate the backlog.
READ MORE: Rape survivor behind campaign to scrap not proven verdict tells MSPs to end 'harrowing process'
But it has emerged that Scottish Labour included a vow to set up a sexual offences court in its manifesto for last year’s general election.
The document states that in order “to reduce court delays, Scottish Labour supports the proposal to establish a special sexual offences court” as well as stating “the ‘not proven’ verdict should be abolished to improve the transparency in the system".
Ahead of the vote, Mc McNeill, Labour’s justice spokesperson, told The Scotsman that she has “not yet been convinced this significant organisational change will in fact reduce delays”.
She added that “alternative proposals for specialist arrangements within existing structures which would have delivered the same outcomes in a simpler and more effective way”.
READ MORE: SNP to use sexual offences court to clear backlog and let survivors tell offenders about impact
Mc McNeill’s amendment would remove a specific sexual offences court being set up and would “establish a specialist division of either or both of the High Court or Sheriff Court to hear sexual offences cases”.
SNP MSP Rona Mackay, said: “This is yet another broken promise for Labour who promised a sexual offences court in their manifesto last year yet have laid amendments to stop it this year.
“The creation of a sexual offences court is the recommendation of a senior judge review into how we can improve the management of sexual offences cases.
“This is backed by victims, survivors their families and support organisations.”
She added: “The Labour Party backed such a court in their 2024 manifesto and I’m sure many will wonder why they have placed wrecking amendments on this vital reform.
READ MORE: MSPs warned not to 'cheapen guilty verdict' as not proven to be scrapped amid jury majority fears
“This court will substantially increase the numbers of courts available for this growing number of cases and all working in the court will be trauma informed. The rights of the accused will remain the same and all will benefit from increased efficiency and trials coming to court more quickly.”