I won't let pimp lobby stand in way of justice

THE MSP behind proposals to criminalise people who buy sex has accused a "pimp lobby" of normalising the exploitation of women.

- JENNIFER HYLAND

Ash Regan, who sits as an independent, is behind the Unbuyable Bill at the Scottish Parliament.

The proposed new laws would mean people paying for prostitution could be fined up to £10,000 and face jail time.

Police Scotland have backed Regan's plan and are also in favour of decriminalising the largely female sellers of sex.

The Edinburgh Eastern MSP said: "My Unbuyable Bill has one clear purpose: to draw prostitution into the light of legislation and out from the shadows of shame and the slick global rebranding of the pimp lobby, whose only purpose is profit.

"The strategy is to sanitise language and normalise the exploitation of the vulnerable.