Alister Jack's job is to 'scupper' the Scottish Government, says Deputy First Minister Shona Robison

Shona Robison says if the SNP tried to introduce minimum unit pricing now, the Scotland Office would block it

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison has accused Scottish secretary Alister Jack of “scuppering” the Scottish Government’s decisions at every turn.

Ms Robison said the SNP wanted to reset its relationship with the Scotland Office, saying the existing Scottish secretary was treating his job as disrupting the Scottish Government.

The declaration comes after Mr Jack stepped in to block or overturn a number of recent decisions made by the SNP in Holyrood.

First Minister Humza Yousaf and Deputy First Minister Shona Robison. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA

This includes issuing a section 35 order to block Scotland’s gender reforms from becoming law, and refusing to allow glass to be included in Scotland’s deposit return scheme. This stance led to the scheme being significantly postponed until October 2025.

Ms Robison went as far to say if her Government was to try and introduce key policies like minimum unit pricing now, it would be blocked by the UK Government.

Speaking on BBC Good Morning Scotland on Friday, the Dundee City East MSP said: “This is a pattern of behaviour because [the deposit return scheme] is not an isolated incident.

“Alister Jack’s role is nothing other than trying to disrupt the work of the Scottish Government.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack. Image: Daniel Leal-Olivas/Getty Images.

“We want to reset that relationship with the UK Government, but when you have politicians like Alister Jack who seem to want to scupper what the Scottish Government is trying to do, it is very difficult.

“They are trying to disrupt devolution and meddle in areas of devolved competence. This is not just an issue for the Scottish Government – the Welsh are saying the same thing about devolution.”

She added: “If we tried to introduce something like minimum unit pricing now, I would be betting the UK Government, through the Internal Market Act, would be interfering in us being able to take forward a policy which is saving lives.”

Minimum unit pricing sets a base rate of 50p per unit of alcohol sold, meaning the stronger an alcoholic drink is, the higher the minimum unit price.

Last month drugs and alcohol policy minister Elena Whitham said this policy had saved lives, reduced hospital admissions and had a “positive impact” on people’s health.

During her interview on Good Morning Scotland, Ms Robison also defended Humza Yousaf, who on Friday marked 100 days as First Minister.

She conceded his start in the top job had been “difficult”, but said Mr Yousaf had already made real progress in a number of areas.

She said: “It has been a very difficult few months for the party, there is no denying it.

“But as First Minister in his first 100 days, he has been getting on with the job of government and tackling key issues of importance like the cost-of-living crisis.

“Energy support has tripled to £30 million, there is £25m for affordable homes for rural key workers, money for expanding childcare, free music tuition, and support for the islands – that is just a list of the achievements over the first 100 days.

“There has been a lot to mark these 100 days, but there’s a lot more to do.”