Scotland's Democracy Isn't Working

Scotland's democracy isn't working if leading politicians are able to cancel, ban and punish local constituents for holding perfectly reasonable views which differ to their own.

Democracy Is About Much More Than IndyRef2! (December 20, 2022)

 

Scotland's First Minister has a small army of officials at her beck and call, yet five weeks have now passed since I submitted my complaint against Patrick Harvie under Scotland's ministerial code.

Mr Harvie refused to meet with me, as one of hi Glasgow constituents, because I attended a rally at the Scottish Parliament in support of women's rights.

But I say politicians banning, cancelling or punishing people for holding perfectly legitimate views is anti-democratic, illiberal and discriminatory - and against everything the Scottish Parliament is supposed to stand for.

Scottish Democracy and Scotland's Ministerial Code (November 29, 2022)

It's been two weeks since I submitted my complaint against Patrick Harvie under Scotland's ministerial code.

No response yet from the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Cancel Culture vs Scotland's Ministerial Code (November 17, 2022)

I have raised a formal complaint against Patrick Harvie under Scotland's ministerial code - the process requires my complaint to be considered by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon who brought Mr Harvie into the Scottish Government.

Dear First Minister

Ministerial Code - Patrick Harvie

I wish to make a formal complaint against Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights and a list MSP for the Glasgow region. 

I asked to meet with Patrick Harvie to discuss ongoing issues regarding gender recognition reform, but in a letter dated 24 October Mr Harvie abruptly announced that he was not prepared to meet or engage with me as a result of my attendance at a women's rights demonstration at the Scottish Parliament on 06 October 2022.

In my view, Mr Harvie's refusal to meet with me because of my support for a women's rights rally is outrageous, discriminatory and anti-democratic. 

Mr Harvie is effectively trying to ban, cancel and punish me for holding views which are admittedly different to his own, but are perfectly reasonable and legitimate as well as being protected under the law.

I believe Mr Harvie's behaviour is totally unacceptable coming from a Scottish Government Minister and an MSP who is bound by the Nolan principles on public life and Scotland's Ministerial Code:

"1.1. Scottish Ministers are expected to maintain high standards of behaviour and to behave in a way that upholds the highest standards of propriety.

"Ministerial Conduct

"1.2. Ministers should be professional in all their dealings and treat all those with whom they come into contact with consideration and respect. Working relationships, including with civil servants, Ministerial and Parliamentary colleagues and Parliamentary staff should be proper and appropriate. Harassing, bullying or other inappropriate or discriminating behaviour, wherever it takes place, is not consistent with the Ministerial Code and will not be tolerated.

"1.3. The Ministerial Code should be read against the background of the overarching duty on Ministers to comply with the law, including international law and treaty obligations, and to uphold the administration of justice and to protect the integrity of public life. They are expected to observe the Seven Principles of Public Life (set out in the Annex to this Code) and the following principles of Ministerial conduct:"

As you know Scottish Ministers are accountable for their personal conduct as well as their ministerial performance which is why previous government ministers including Derek Mackay and Mark McDonald, for example, were sacked or forced to resign. 

Henry McLeish and Wendy Alexander both resigned from previous Labour/Lib Dem administrations, as I am sure you recall given your twenty three years membership of the Scottish Parliament.

I did not ask Mr Harvie to take up my 'case' or represent me in any way - all I asked was for the opportunity, as a Glasgow constituent, to meet with one of Glasgow's lawmakers to discuss a highly topical issue in a civil fashion.

I have asked Mr Harvie to apologise for his ignorant, arrogant behaviour and enclose a chain of emails explaining the background to this affair.

I invite you to uphold my complaint and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards

Mark Irvine