The Scottish Conservatives have tabled a motion of no confidence in Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater, the minister responsible for the delayed deposit return scheme.
The news comes as Circularity Scotland, the firm set up to administer the scheme, is on the brink of collapse. Staff have been sent home and they aren’t sure whether their wages will be paid.
Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said: “We feel we have no option but to bring this motion forward, because Lorna Slater has demonstrated that she is out of her depth as a minister. I don’t say this lightly, but I struggle to think of a minister who has struggled so much in their brief in the seven years I’ve been in the Scottish Parliament.
“Her handling of the deposit return scheme has been shambolic from day one, with her refusal to engage with business or heed their warnings that her plans were unworkable.”
Kerr claimed that Slater “knew for years” that an exemption from the UK Internal Market Act was required, but ”only applied for it at the 11th hour”.
He said that when the UK government sought to work with her to help create a viable scheme, she “resorted to anger, division and blame, rather than the constructive, collaborative approach that could have yielded a working scheme”.
Patrick Harvie, who is co-leader of the Greens alongside Slater, branded the move “a cynical and shameless political stunt”.
He added: “Lorna has been at the forefront of delivering a fairer, greener and better Scotland. She has overseen a record investment in wildlife and nature, an end to new incineration and a ban on the worst single-use plastics. She always puts Scotland first.”
The co-operation agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens, which gave the smaller party two ministerial positions, means the motion stands little chance of passing. It is expected to be debated in parliament this week or next.
