MSPs turn down incest petition without debate

A petition calling for an end to the prohibition on incest between consenting adults in Scotland has been rejected without debate by a Holyrood committee.

The Public Petitions Committee agreed that there was "no public interest" in taking the matter forward where the petition, presented by Richard Morris, had never been opened to signatures and Mr Morris did not appear to give evidence.

Mr Morris, who lives in Australia, wants the criminal law to be changed so as not to apply to consenting adults over 21. He has been campaigning on behalf of a Scottish man convicted of incest with his daughter, arguing that the present law "perpetuates superstitious, bigoted, outmoded beliefs, and in its present form its continued existence is unjustified".

Under standing orders MSPs had the option to close the petition, on the basis of a Scottish Law Commission report from 2007 which recommended retaining the offence as it stands. Normally they are bound to consider any petition aimed at changing the law on a devolved topic.

Committee convener Michael McMahon said that all petitions which fell within the committee's rules "must be given our open and transparent consideration", but there was no value in taking forward the petition in the circumstances. Members unanimously agreed that the petition should be closed.