SCOTLAND is on course to become the first country in the world to make provision of period products universal, after the Scottish Government moved to back a bill by Labour’s Monica Lennon.
The SNP’s announcement that they would support the legislation came as something of a surprise. The party’s MSPs have spent the last few weeks arguing that the bill – which would make universal access to free period products a statutory right – is unnecessary as there are already measures in place to address period poverty.
SNP Cabinet Secretary Aileen Campbell also disputed the costs, saying it would more likely cost up to £24m a year instead of the £10m estimated by Lennon.
There were also fears that people outside Scotland could access the products, which led to some mockery from political rivals about cross border “tampon raids”.
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However, the party were also feeling the pressure from some of their own supporters.
Over the weekend, in a letter to the Sunday National, almost 70 SNP members – including Inverness councillor Emma Roddick, comedian Janey Godley, several representatives of the Young Scots for Independence National Executive, including convener Caitlyn McMahon and vice-convener Charlotte Armitage – urged their MSPs to “do more” and back the legislation.
Former party spin doctor Kevin Pringle also called on the SNP should support the Bill. Labour, the Lib Dems, Greens have always supported the plans. New Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw announced last week that he too would back the proposals.
That left the unenviable prospect of the SNP being the only party to vote against the bill.
Last night, Campbell said the government would now vote for Lennon’s legislation at Stage One, despite “significant and very real concerns about the practicality and deliverability of the bill in its current form”.
The minister added: “As signal of our good faith and in recognition of the broad consensus about general policy objectives, we will support the bill at this stage.
“We will then seek to work with others in a genuine effort to reach agreement on amendments that will allay our concerns and enable us to lodge a robust financial resolution.
“I hope other parties will be prepared to enter into that work in the same constructive spirit that we will.
“Scotland is leading the world in improving period dignity and I am determined to continue that work in a way that will improve the lives of people across Scotland.”
Lennon said it was victory for all the campaigners and activists who had backed the proposal: “Scotland has already taken important steps towards improving access to period products and tackling stigma.
“Legislation will guarantee rights, ensure that current initiatives continue in future on a universal basis, and will help us achieve period dignity for all.”
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