Scottish Labour call for SNP Cabinet Justice Secretary to stand down

Tomorrow, Scottish Labour will call for SNP MSP Kenny MacAskill to step down from his position as Cabinet Justice Secretary.

MacAskill recently faced criticism over a tweet he sent, in which he compared the poll tax used in southern US states to disenfranchise African Americans after the American Civil War to cross-checking the electoral register with those who have not paid their taxes – a practice that’s emerged after the high levels of voter registration for the Scottish referendum.

However, this isn’t what’s sparked Scottish Labour’s call for his resignation. Instead, MacAskill is under the microscope over the widespread practice of stop and search by armed police in Scotland.

Graeme Pearson, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, has said:

“There has been fundamental policy decisions taken on arming of police on routine duties, stop and searches and target setting without proper debate and consultation. MacAskill has failed to adequately answer the serious questions asked of him, and this is simply unacceptable.

“Police Scotland must allow policing by consent to secure public confidence and in order to ensure this happens we must have a strong Justice Secretary that is willing to hold them to account, currently we don’t. Alex Salmond is unwilling to make any moves to replace him and rather than waiting for the inevitable reshuffle from Nicola Sturgeon, the Cabinet Secretary should do the honourable thing and resign.”

Pearson’s comments come after Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said last Thursday at First Minister’s Questions that MacAskill should stand down.

Last Friday it was confirmed that armed officers would no longer join officers on patrol. We’ll let you know if there are any further updates.