A SCOTTISH Government cabinet minister was told to abandon a planned trip to Poland in a desperate bid by the SNP to force through their planned scrapping of corroboration.
The Courier has been told that Nationalist business manager, Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick, told the Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop her overseas visit to Eastern Europe, a taxpayer-funded visit, was to be curtailed yesterday to ensure the controversial Criminal Justice Bill is passed today.
It includes the abolition of corroboration, the centuries-old piece of Scots law which sets out the need for a second piece of evidence. The plans have received stinging criticism from the legal profession.
One SNP source said around 20 civil servants arrived at Holyrood yesterday with their bags packed, expecting to leave with Ms Hyslop on the trip to Poland.
He added: “This will cost thousands of pounds. The hotels were booked, the flights from Prestwick. It leaves taxpayers out of pocket twice because it’s non-refundable.”
The Scottish Government confirmed the trip was no longer going ahead but insisted a visit was planned for “the spring”.
Today’s vote on the Criminal Justice Bill represents a major opportunity for opposition parties to defeat the majority SNP Government.
The party holds a majority of just one since John Finnie and Jean Urquhart quit in the fall-out from a conference debate on joining Nato, and convicted wife-beater Bill Walker was expelled.
SNP chief whip Bill Kidd is already in Chicago this week and, had Ms Hyslop flown abroad, the SNP would have been in a minority of one.
Mr Finnie, Margo Macdonald and the Scottish Greens, all of whom usually support the Government, have said they will oppose the scrapping of corroboration.
If there is a tie, the Presiding Officer has a vote but it must maintain the status quo, which would leave Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill’s Bill defeated.
The Courier also understands that First Minister Alex Salmond cancelled a talk he was to give to the Energy Institute in Aberdeen at the last minute.
Attempts were made to contact Mr FitzPatrick but there had been no reply by the time of going to press.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Plans for all ministerial visits at home and abroad are constantly updated.”
kiandrews@thecourier.co.uk