The Scottish government is refusing to publish details about the Queen’s secret lobbying of ministers because it would undermine “the appearance of political neutrality” that the monarch adopts in public. The Guardian revealed on Wednesday that in February, the Queen’s lawyers successfully lobbied Scottish ministers to change a draft law to exempt her private land from a major initiative to cut carbon emissions. We still don’t have the full detail of how the Scottish government were pressured into changing the law.”Humphreys is planning an appeal to the Scottish information commissioner, who oversees freedom of information law in Scotland. ?”Wheelhouse denied there had been any cover-up, and said Scottish ministers were legally required under legislation passed by Westminster to allow the Queen to scrutinise and change bills in advance. “If this means that Queen’s consent is refused, then ministers should come to parliament and make that known,” he said.

Source: The Guardian July 29, 2021 15:45 UTC