SNP ministers call on Scottish Parliament to withhold consent to Trade Union Bill

SNP ministers have called on Holyrood to withhold consent for the Trade Union Bill’s application in Scotland.

They have submitted a legislative consent memorandum that provides Holyrood should be allowed a say on the Westminster proposals because they affect devolved areas.

However, the UK government has said the contents of the bill are fully reserved.

The bill could limit trade union powers and make it harder for them to call strikes. It includes a condition for a 40 per cent turnout threshold for strike ballots in “important public services”.

Both the Scottish government as well as Scottish Labour have received legal advice on the bill.

The legislation would also abolish the “check off” system which sees union subscriptions taken directly from workers’ wages.

Roseanna Cunningham, Fair Work and Skills Secretary, said there was clear opposition to the bill.

She said: “Last month’s Scottish parliamentary debate on the Trade Union Bill confirmed that there is clear opposition to this draft legislation in Scotland.

“There is little or no evidence to support its proposals and the UK government has made no attempt to consider how the bill impacts in Scotland and in particular on our public services. Our requests to be excluded from the bill have also been ignored.

“There is a clear case for Scotland to be removed from the bill or, at the very least, for the regulation-making powers to be confirmed as within the devolved competence of Scottish ministers.

“While the UK government maintain that the bill is reserved, we have asked the parliamentary authorities to consider a legislative consent memorandum asking the Scottish Parliament to withhold its consent for the bill.”