John Mason MSP speaks out about abortion row that has seen him disciplined by the SNP

In an exclusive interview with the Glasgow Times, he outlined his position on abortion, buffer zones, party control and why he feels the need to speak his mind, even when it gets him in bother.

The MSP for Shettleston was reprimanded over his comments on plans for buffer zones to keep protests away from hospitals or sexual health clinics where women are attending for abortion care or advice.

READ MORE: Glasgow MSP John Mason criticised for support of US abortion change

Mason has said the protests were “vigils” and questioned NHS abortion care, stating “some women had very bad experiences”.

The SNP whips said he brought the parliamentary group into disrepute and issued a written warning

Mason now says he and others are concerned the balance of power is perhaps 'tipped too far in favour of the whips' and he feels a duty to speak out and speak up for minority opinions.

He said traditionally abortion has been a conscience issue and is not aware that policy has changed.

The MSP said: “There’s two key points. One is abortion itself and the buffer zones, and one is generally within a political party how much freedom is there for backbenchers or anyone to express their own views.

“The link is that abortion has traditionally been, for the SNP and I think most of the parties, a conscience issue.

“That would also be true of assisted dying, which is coming up. It may or may not be true for transgender.

 “We’ve had free votes on a number of these kinds of issues. Same sex marriage was another one, where traditionally all parties have had a free vote and a conscience vote.”

READ MORE:John Mason SNP MSP accused of 'spreading misinformation' over abortion services

The long-standing parliamentarian reminded the party he has been elected eight times and at every election his views on abortion have been well-known and documented

He said: “I’ve been quite open about my position on abortion, which has been a pro-life position really before I got involved in politics.

“Particularly in the 2008 by-election, when I was elected as an MP at Westminster there was quite a lot of publicity around what I said at that time.

Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

“The other candidates in that by-election were all pro-choice, I was pro-life and that was for some people a positive factor in that particular election.”

He said he is still unclear about what he was being reprimanded for, adding: “The letter ticking me off I also felt was a bit vague on exactly what I had done. Was it speaking out on abortion or what was it?

“I sought clarification in my letter - I don’t have it.”

Asked if he has less room to speak out now than before and if party discipline is more restrictive now, he said that was part of the issue.

Mason said: “In many ways that is the bigger question. Abortion is the issue we are dealing with but there’s this bigger issue. How do political parties work, not just the SNP?”

He added a few people can make a difference at Holyrood unlike at Westminster, where he was MP for Glasgow East from 2008 to 2010, where a few dissenting voices can be more easily overlooked.

READ MORE: Glasgow MSP John Mason criticised for saying clinics ‘push abortion'

And he highlighted what he sees as a duty to the parliament and constituents to not simply accept and promote the party or government line without question.

He said: “Some backbenchers will always say yes to the government no matter what, just because that’s the way they are made or they want to be a minister at some point.

"But there are others and there are a number within the SNP and all the parties who also see they have responsibility for the good of the parliament and their constituents to be at least questioning things."

There are, he said, ways of doing that.

He said: “Some do it behind closed doors, speaking to the whips, speaking to the government ministers. Maybe I’m a little bit more out there saying what I think.

“There will be people in parliament who have similar views to mine if not exactly the same.

“There can be an unwillingness to put your head above the parapet and this is quite a sensitive one.”

The letter of rebuke is the first time he has had official party proceedings despite his comments on a range of issues causing controversy.

But it is unlikely to change his approach to politics and how he represents his constituents.

He said: “If there’s no voice in parliament representing voices like pro-life, then it actually undermines parliament and undermines the SNP.”

He is a member of his local baptist church in Glasgow and has been open about his faith.

He said: “Faith is part of this as well. I do feel I’m in the right job where I’m meant to be. I do feel that and I’ve done this in jobs outside parliament. I’m questioning the establishment.”

He said on abortion however, it is science that underpins his beliefs.

PA (Image: PA)

He said: “The whips said they believe this is based on my faith and I responded and said I believe this is based on science.

“The actual question of abortion, the key question, is when does life start? Does life start at birth or 24-weeks or does it start at conception?

“I’m convinced the science says life begins at conception, so my actual decision on that is based on that kind of evidence that I’ve heard - how young can a baby feel pain, when can you recognise its feet, just all these kind of things.

“But where my faith comes in, it does give me a bit more - let’s say courage - to question and stand up and ask about things.

“I do get strength from that to speak out when I know it’s maybe not going to be advantageous to myself."

The MSP stated that there can sometimes be "tension" when trying to get the balance right between party discipline and the whips.

He added: "But my feeling is there are a few colleagues who feel that the balance is a wee bit out at the moment and perhaps we have had more freedom in the past and we want to maintain that.

“People want to be loyal and supportive. I have huge support and respect for Nicola Sturgeon, for example, but that doesn’t mean we can’t disagree on things.

“Some people find that quite hard to handle. What happens if you do disagree with the leader or minister?

“You can do it quietly behind the scenes but there comes a point where some people need to speak out.”