GRANT ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OF “BETRAYAL” AS SNP AND GREENS VOTE DOWN RIGHT TO FOOD AMENDMENT 

Scottish Labour has accused the SNP/Green government of “betrayal”, as the parties teamed up with the Tories to quash Rhoda Grant’s attempt to put the right to food in law. 

 

Today, during Stage 2 of the Good Food Nation Bill, the Scottish Labour MSP attempted to amend the Bill to move forward plans to enshrine the human right to food in Scots law – something both the SNP and the Greens claim to support. 

The amendment would have given the new Act a responsibility to “give effect to the human right to food through good food nation plans”. However, it was voted down by the Greens, SNP and Tory members of the Committee.

Commenting, Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said:

 

“This is a complete betrayal of the thousands of people in Scotland struggling to put food on the table.

“The SNP and the Greens both claim to support protecting the right to food in law, but today they refused.

“This dither and delay is all the more shameful while the worst cost of living crisis in decades piles pressure on families across the country.

“Once again this SNP/Green government has failed to step up to the mark and use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to make a difference in people’s lives.

“I will continue to fight to enshrine this basic human right in law, so we can tackle the scandal of food poverty once and for all.”