SUPREME COURT: Scottish Labour welcomed the end of a row over devolved powers yesterday, saying that both the SNP and Tories have “let this fiasco undermine meaningful and progressive legislation.”

The Supreme Court ruled that a Scottish government Bill on children’s rights, which would have enshrined the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child into Scots law, was outside Holyrood’s powers, and referred it back to MSPs for further scrutiny.

Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said the debate between the government and Tories over the legislation had constituted “petty constitutional bickering” when it should have been about “putting children’s rights front and centre.”

SNP ministers said they remained committed to the incorporation of the UN convention “to the maximum extent possible as soon as practicable.”

RIGHT TO FOOD: Scottish Labour expressed its disappointment yesterday after a Bill aimed at enshrining the right to food in law failed to pass a committee vote.

The Right to Food Bill, proposed by Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, has been delayed after equalities committee members asked for another consultation to be carried out.

Ms Grant said the decision was deeply disappointing, and that the pandemic has made the Bill even more urgent.

“To delay on this vital matter sends a message to the public that this government is not interested in tackling food poverty,” she said.

EDUCATION: Unite Scotland members at the University of Dundee have voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pensions.

Workers are set to strike later this month after 78 per cent of members supported taking the action on a turnout of 67 per cent.

Noting that the Scottish government has told university bosses to resume negotiations, Unite industrial officer Susan Robertson warned that “the proposals on the table will plunge workers into pension poverty and require them to work longer.”