Tommy Sheridan (socialist MSP) has managed to get his bill preventing terror tactics in dealings with debtors accepted.

For years people in debt have had the police and bully boys at their door to take away posessions to pay off their debts. No other mechanism existed. This draconian behaviour is out of step with a modern western democracy.

Sheridan said "Poindings and warrant sales have never been about recovering debt or resolving debt. They have always been used to humiliate, degrade, and frighten the poor. In 1893 the Scottish Labour Party committed itself to abolishing poindings and warrant sales. Over 100 years later is it perhaps fitting that Scotland first Parliament for 300 years has the chance today to seize the opportunity and vote for abolition."