Humanist Society reacts to Programme for Government 2024-25

Joe Higgins, Policy and Campaigns Officer

September 9, 2024

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Humanist Society Scotland has expressed disappointment at the Scottish Government’s legislative and policy plans for the coming year. The Programme for Government 2024-25 lacks the ambition required to make Scotland a more rational, secular and socially just country.

Earlier this month Humanist Society Scotland set out our four key priorities for the Scottish Government in 2024-25. These ranged from enhancing the rights and safety of women and LGBTQ+ people to meeting climate commitments and ending compulsory religious worship in schools. Unfortunately, the government’s ambitions fall far short of the action humanists are calling for.

Conversion practices bill shelved

We were deeply disappointed that legislation to end conversion practices was missing from this year’s government programme. In a step back from its previous commitment to passing a bill at Holyrood, the Scottish Government now intends to wait for Westminster to pass legislation. Given preparations for a Scottish bill were at an advanced stage, we fear this will only lead to further delays. A UK-wide approach may also leave the Scottish Government with less influence to effectively end conversion practices here in Scotland.

If MSPs agree to a law passed by Westminster, they must not accept legislation that exempts those claiming the right to ‘religious freedom’ or fails to protect our trans and non-binary community.

We echo the comments made by the LGBTQ+ charity Equality Network following the announcement.

No plans to end compulsory religious worship in schools

There was no mention of allowing pupils to opt out of religious observance in the government programme. Sadly, the Scottish Government continues to ignore the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Children’s Commissioner for Scotland in their refusal to reform school guidance on religious observance.

Working with children’s rights charity Together Scotland, we will continue to call on Ministers to address this incompatibility with the UNCRC. Children’s right to freedom of thought and belief must be fully respected at school.

Net-zero policies lack detail and funding

As a member of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, we support their statement on the Programme for Government. We welcome the introduction of legislation aimed at protecting our natural environment and reducing the climate impact of our buildings. However, we remain concerned about the significant cuts already made to active travel and nature restoration budgets. The Scottish Government must ensure its emission reduction policies are fully funded with a proper plan to deliver them.

In positive news… a date set for buffer zones

We warmly welcome the announcement that abortion buffer zones will come into force on 24 September. Anti-abortion protesters found guilty of harassing patients and staff within the new 200m zones could soon face unlimited fines.

We’re pleased that the Scottish Government is acting swiftly to implement Gillian Mackay MSP’s Safe Access Zones Bill, which was passed overwhelmingly by MSPs in June. There is no excuse for the continued presence of religious protesters outside abortion clinics.

Our CEO Fraser Sutherland said:

“This year’s programme for government was a missed opportunity to make Scotland a more rational, secular and socially just country.

The swift implementation of abortion buffer zones is welcome and stands in contrast to the heel-dragging we’ve seen in England and Wales. Unfortunately the good news ends there. In their continued refusal to give school pupils the choice to opt out of religious worship, the Scottish Government remains ambivalent to children’s right to freedom of religion and belief. And after Ministers abandoned their own climate targets, we still have little detail on how Scotland will reach net-zero.

Now that Scottish Ministers have shelved their own legislation, we have no clear timetable for a conversion practices bill in any part of the UK. LGBT+ people in Scotland could be left waiting years for robust protection against these abusive and illegitimate practices. This is a completely unacceptable situation. In 2023, the Scottish Government committed to delivering this Bill and it must keep its promise to the LGBT+ community.”

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