Scottish Parliament rejects prostitution bill

The Scottish Parliament have voted against Ash Regan’s bill to introduce the Nordic Model to Scotland’s prostitution laws. MSPs voted not to progress the legislation from Stage One at yesterday’s debate.

The Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill, which was tabled by Ash Regan, would have decriminalised the existing offence of soliciting, and made paying for sexual services illegal in Scotland. The Nordic Model, so-called because it was first pioneered in Sweden, emphasises the exploitative nature of prostitution and has been adopted by Norway, Iceland and Northern Ireland.

Speaking in the debate, Regan said that the bill “recognises prostitution for what it is – a system of exploitation and violence sustained by demand. It decriminalises those who are sold, recognising them as people constrained by vulnerability and not offenders. And it places criminality where it has never properly sat in Scots law, with those who buy sexual access and those who profit from the sale of sexual access to human beings.”

The Bill was considered by MSPs at Stage One, which looks at the general principles of the legislation, rather than examining all of the details of the new law.

The Scottish Government did not support the bill and, despite some SNP MSPs rebelling and voting for the legislation, the bill was rejected by 64 votes to 54.

Independent MSP Ash Regan responded to the result, saying: “Today, Parliament chose cowardice over action - despite overwhelming evidence, survivor testimony, and support from police, prosecutors and international experts.” She concluded: “Inaction is not neutral. It is a decision, and it has consequences.“

SNP MSP Michelle Thomson, who rebelled against the government, told the BBC that prostitutes were at a much higher risk of being attacked and murdered, and to develop drug, alcohol, and mental health issues than other women. She believed that SNP MSPs should have been given a free vote on the bill.

Ministers said that they supported the principle behind the bill, but felt that there were too many issues with the legislation to be fixed within the timeframe. However, the SNP have indicated that they are committed to returning to the issue is they return to government following May’s elections.