Highlands and Islands MSP: Supreme Court decision must not endanger Scottish healthcare

SNP MSP Emma Roddick has asked the Scottish Government to reassure women and the LGBTQI+ community in Scotland following a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn key abortion rights case Roe v Wade.

Noting that there is rising promotion of anti-abortion campaigning in Scotland, too, she said:

“Following the appalling decision of the Supreme Court to restrict access to abortion in the States, I and many others with an interest in abortion rights have seen comments over the last few weeks – some from very close to home – by people who now seek to limit our right to access it here in Scotland, too.

“I’m particularly concerned about the rise in intimidation and harassment of those accessing sexual health clinics in the Central Belt, and I have asked the Scottish Government to monitor and act upon any instances of this elsewhere in the country.

“It is unacceptable that people are in the position of being afraid of losing their right to bodily autonomy, and it is shameful that misinformation and calls to row back existing rights are being touted by colleagues in the Scottish Parliament. 

“We have to do better and I am glad that my and others’ calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that factual information on abortion is available to the public and to expedite the implementation of ‘buffer zones’ in problem areas are being heard and acted upon.”

Emma Roddick has also publicly declared support for Gillian Mackay, Green MSP for Central Scotland’s, campaign to implement “buffer zones” at clinics which offer abortions, to prevent protests from interrupting patients accessing these services.