David Anderson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, commenting on the decision of the UK Government not to extend the Pitchford Inquiry into undercover policing to Scotland, said:

 "After far too much prevarication, we have finally been informed by the UK Government that they will not extend the Pitchford Inquiry to Scotland. This is a disappointing decision that denies truth and justice to those impacted by underhand and questionable police activity. There is compelling evidence that both the Special Demonstrations Squad and National Public Order Intelligence Unit were active in Scotland and that Scottish Police officers were complicit. It is therefore vital that other avenues are sought in order to give those involved the justice they deserve.

 "We must learn from the sad failures of the past at both Hillsborough and Orgreave. These awful events must serve as a reminder to us all that the public expect, as they are perfectly entitled to, much more than this and it is vital that their concerns are properly addressed.

 "Like the UK Government, the Scottish Government has not been proactive enough. It is imperative that they act immediately to initiate a Scottish Inquiry that brings this sorry episode to an end once and for all, and provides Scottish people with the justice they deserve. I will be writing to both Brandon Lewis MP and the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Michael Mathieson, urging them to do everything they can to deliver that justice.“