NICOLA Sturgeon is facing a grassroots rebellion over her Government’s opposition to a Bill on access to period products.
Around seventy SNP members have signed an open letter calling on the party to back Labour MSP Monica Lennon’s plan for free sanitary item.
Former party spin doctor Kevin Pringle also said the SNP should support the Bill in a Holyrood vote this month.
Under the proposal, the Scottish Government would have a legal duty to make period products available on a universal basis.
Colleges, universities and schools would also be required to stock the items in their toilets.
However, SNP Cabinet Secretary Aileen Campbell has raised objections to the draft law, including cost and the claim that people outside Scotland could access the products.
Her fear led to mockery on social media about so-called cross border “tampon raids”.
With Labour, the Lib Dems, Greens and new Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw supporting the plan, the SNP could be the only party to vote against a Bill aimed at eradicating period poverty.
A letter organised by Stuart Smith, the national equalities convener of SNP Students, urged support for the plan:
“The passing of this bill will give those in need the dignity and privacy to maintain their personal health.”
It was also signed by SNP councillor Emma Roddick, comedian Janey Godley, representatives of the Young Scots for Independence National Executive and members of the Scottish Youth Parliament.
In a separate intervention, Pringle wrote: “SNP minister Aileen Campbell’s unfortunate suggestion that free products in Scotland could be raided and sold south of the border isn’t supported by the evidence of current practice.”
He added: “I hope Holyrood unites now to end period poverty."
Lennon said: “Senior SNP figures have thrown their weight behind this world-leading Bill because they agree with thousands of campaigners that no one should struggle to access period products. This is a positive development.
“The Scottish Government has boosted access to free period products but there is more to do. Parliament will vote on this landmark legislation next week and I hope we will unite across party lines to make history together.”
Campbell said: “Through our world leading action, free period products are now available to more than half a million people across Scotland with the Scottish Government investing £15 million to widen provision and tackle the stigma surrounding periods.
“I applaud Monica Lennon for her work on the proposed Period Poverty Bill but we need to address the concerns in her proposed legislation, such as what a universal scheme offering a variety of products would look like, what the impact of losing local flexibility would be, and the estimated £24 million a year it would cost to the public purse.”
