Boris Johnson has been accused by the SNP of threatening children’s’ rights in Scotland to protect the powers of the Westminster government.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said “we’ll see you in court” as he claimed the Conservative Government’s legal move to override Holyrood legislation trampled on the rights of children.
But Boris Johnson said it a was “complete nonsense” to say that a UK government’s decision to refer two bills passed by Holyrood unanimously to the Supreme Court were political attack.
UK Ministers have objected to the Scottish parliament ’s United Nations convention on the rights of the child bill and the European charter of local self-government bill as they think parts of the legislation are outwith the competence of Holyrood.
In angry Commons exchanges Ian Blackford said the legislation had the support of all parties in Holyrood, even the Tories.
He said: “Apparently the only basis of the UK government’s legal case is that the law constraints Westminster powers. Prime Minister, can you do everyone a favour by explaining how protecting children’s rights in Scotland threatens the Tory government in London?”
Johnson said the SNP leader’s claims were “nonsense”.
He replied:”The UK ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 30 years ago,
“This is simply an attempt by the SNP to create another fictitious bone of contention between themselves and the rest of the country.
"If they really cared about the rights of the child if they would do much more to improve education in Scotland where they are so lamentably failing.”
Blackford said there was nothing technical about the legal challenge.
The SNP leader said: “This is the tale of two governments. We have an SNP Scottish government delivering the baby box, doubling the Scottish child pivot and providing free school meals to every primary school child. At the same time as this Tory government is robbing children of their rights in Scotland”
He added: “This legal challenge threatens all that.
"It is wrong, and it is morally repugnant. Will the Prime Minister commit to withdrawing his legal challenge today? If not, we’ll see you in court.”
Johnson scoffed that the SNP should focus on “the issues that matter” to the people of Scotland.
He said: “All they can think of is break up this country, call for a referendum, break up this country and destroy our country, in a way that I think is completely irresponsible at a very difficult time when we want to bounce back stronger together.”
