MSPs support another vote on Brexit

1. The education committee take evidence on music tuition from school pupils campaigning against cuts
2. Finance, economy and fair work ministers face portfolio questions
3. MSPs debate Brexit and international research
4. A Tory MSP celebrates emergency service workers who will have had a busy week!

That's all from Holyrood Live!

PA

Hundreds of thousands of people marched through London calling for a new vote on Brexit

That's all from Holyrood Live on Wednesday 7 November 2018.

MSPs have voted to express their "unequivocal support" for a referendum on the final terms of Brexit.

Holyrood voted by 65 to 30 in favour of such a move during a debate about the impact of leaving the EU.

SNP, Green and Lib Dem MSPs were joined by two Scottish Labour members in the vote, while the bulk of the Labour group abstained.

The UK government is firmly opposed to having a new referendum, saying the 2016 vote must be respected.

Scottish governent does not tolerate attacks on emergency staff

bbc

Community Safety Minister Ash Dehnam

Community Safety Minister Ash Dehnam says she has had a debrief from Police Scotland on incidents over the last few days.

Ms Denham thanks all the emergency services for all their work.

"The Scottish government does not and will not tolerate any such attacks on emergency staff."

She points out the Tories voted against the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act in 2005.

Ms Dehnam says arrests have already been made, in terms of firework attacks, and further arrests are expected.

Action must be taken to protect emergency service workers

BBC

Labour MSP Elaine Smith

Labour MSP Elaine Smith says as well as commending fire service workers, we must address concerns raised about assaults.

She highlights the '68 is too late' campaign, which is calling for the state pension age to be decreased for emergency service workers to reflect the risks they face.

Background: In England and Wales tougher sentences for attacks on emergency staff

Law to tackle attacks on emergency staff

Maximum prison terms for people found guilty of common assault against emergency workers are to double from six months to a year.

Firefighters, police officers, prison officers and NHS staff are among those covered by the new law.

Justice Minister Rory Stewart said staff deserve greater protection.

The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill receives Royal Assent later and comes into force in November.

Read more here.

New figures reveal nearly 6,000 attacks on emergency services in 2017/18

bbc

Tory MSP Liam Kerr

Tory MSP Liam Kerr the emergency services have one single message, "we are here to help you, any attack on us cannot and must not be tolerated".

Mr Kerr highlights the campaign #donotattackme, calling for no attacks on the emergency services.

Isn't it shocking that such a campaign is necessary, he asks.

The Tory MSP says he has received new figures from the Lord Advocate which show there were nearly 6,000 attacks on the emergency services since 2017-18.

He is concerned the reports of attacks have risen, but convictions have fallen.

Mr Kerr says he wants to see the law "coming down like a ton of bricks" on those who attack the emergency services.

MSPs will now praise the work of the emergency service workers

Getty Images/Pa/Science Photo Library

Tory MSP Liam Kerr will now use his member's debate to praise the work of the emergency services.

Scottish Parliament

Majority of MSPs support having another vote on Brexit

PA

Hundreds of thousands of people marched through London calling for a new vote on Brexit

MSPs have voted to express their "unequivocal support" for a referendum on the final terms of Brexit.

Holyrood voted by 65 to 30 in favour of such a move during a debate about the impact of leaving the EU.

SNP, Green and Lib Dem MSPs were joined by two Scottish Labour members in the vote, while the bulk of the Labour group abstained.

The UK government is firmly opposed to having a new referendum, saying the 2016 vote must be respected.

Read more here.

Two Labour MSPs backed another referendum breaking the whip

Holyrood votes to give 'unequivocal support' for public vote on final Brexit deal

BreakingMSPs back motion in favour of referendum on final terms of Brexit

bbc

The Scottish parliament has backed the final amended motion by 66 votes for, 28 against with 21 MSPs abstaining.

MSPs vote to support amendment backing public vote on final terms of Brexit deal

MSPs vote to back the Lib Dem amendment from Tavish Scott, which says the parliament will "provide unequivocal support for a public vote on the final terms of the Brexit deal".

65 MSPs backed it, 30 voted against and 20 abstained.

Scottish government backs amendment calling for 'People's Vote'

bbc

Science Minister Richard Lochhead

Science Minister Richard Lochhead says the SNP and the government will be supporting the Lib Dem amendment in terms of the 'People's Vote'.

Mr Lochhead says: "It is of course a democratic outrage that Scotland faces being dragged out of Scotland against its will."

The people of Scotland voted to remain in the EU and a second vote will provide an opportunity to do that, although there is no guarantee the result will be different he says.

Amendment calling for support for public vote on Brexit deal expected to pass

Tory MSP expresses confidence a 'comprehensive deal' will emerge with EU

BBC

Tory MSP Miles Briggs

Tory MSP Miles Briggs says any new political deal with the EU - "and I have confidence we will see a comprehensive deal emerge in the coming weeks" - will respond to challenges highlighted in the short-term.

The UK government has committed to supporting research posts beyond 2020, Mr Briggs adds.

The Tory MSP calls on the Scottish government to commit to backing these important sectors "instead of spreading doom and gloom".

Brexit may change some of the funding streams but we are confident the Scottish and UK governments can put in place new funding programmes he argues.

Labour party preference is a general election not a 'People's Vote'

bbc

Labour MSP Iain Gray

Tory MSP Oliver Mundell says if the UK Labour party got behind Theresa May there would be more certainty.

Labour MSP Iain Gray disagrees saying her "approach to Brexit has been a catastrophe".

Mr Gray says even he can't say the problem with Brexit is the Scottish government's negativity.

He says he has difficulty the Lib Dem amendment.

"I personally find the idea of a People's Vote very attractive."

However he argues the idea of a general election is even more attractive to get rid of the Conservatives.

Another referendum could prevent 'calamitous' Brexit says Lib Dem MSP

BBC

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott highlights that nothing is guaranteed for research funding after 2020 under the current Horizon programme.

The time it takes to put projects together is now until 2020, he says.

Parliament can today support a position to hold another referendum on the final terms and prevent a "calamitous" Brexit, he says.

There is a real momentum now and a demonstrable shift in attitudes across every part of the UK on this, Mr Scott adds.

Nobody voted for the current chaos and people are entitled to have a final say, he insists.

Majority of MSPs expected to back public vote on terms of Brexit at decision time

Glenn Campbell

BBC Scotland Political Correspondent

Reuters

Authors of the letter say the original ballot did not reflect the choices now facing the UK

At decision time a majority of MSPs are expected to back a public vote on the terms of Brexit at decision time.

They’ll do so via a Liberal Democrat amendment to a Scottish government motion on scientific research and Brexit.

The amendment calls for “unequivocal support for a public vote on the final terms of the Brexit deal”.

SNP, Greens, Lib Dems and possibly some Labour members in favour. Tories expected to vote against.

Here's the all important Lib Dem amendment....

Scottish Paraliament