THE United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is said to be the most complete statement of human rights ever produced.

It is the most widely ratified international human rights treaty in history, with the UK having ratified the treaty nearly 30 years ago, and it covers every aspect of children's wellbeing across 54 separate articles.

This is why, earlier this year, I was proud to conclude my first term as an MSP by voting to pass a Bill that would have incorporated this treaty into Scottish law.

The UNCRC Bill was potentially a landmark step in maximising children's rights across Scotland, and throughout its progress through parliament I worked hard to lead my party's scrutiny of this Bill.

But while this Bill was potentially such a landmark step, this potential has, regrettably, yet to be realised.

This is because last month, the Supreme Court ruled that several aspects of this Bill were outside the competence of the Scottish Parliament. Not only this, but the court ruled that when creating the Bill, the SNP Government had knowingly and deliberately exceeded the powers of the Scottish Parliament.

Because of this, the Bill must now be brought back to parliament to be amended before it can become law, and the enhancement of children's rights will remain in limbo until this happens.

Throughout the Bill's passage through parliament, the SNP were warned about the legal problems it might face, but chose to do nothing. The Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, even wrote to John Swinney to warn him that details of the Bill needed to be changed, only to be told his letter was 'menacing'.

Indeed, I warned Mr Swinney of these potential problems myself in parliament, only to be accused of leading a 'threat against the powers of the Scottish Parliament'. Even the first minister herself described attempts to challenge this Bill as being 'morally repugnant'.

But despite what the SNP have claimed, the challenges to this Bill were never about its principles – but about its legal technicalities. Technicalities which we have now learned were placed in the Bill deliberately in order to manufacture a political fight.

It is clear that instead of using this Bill to reform children's rights, the SNP chose to use this Bill as an opportunity to whip up yet more political grievances. And in doing so, they have delayed the UNCRC being implemented into Scottish law.

The SNP have now had weeks to consider the Supreme Court's damning verdict on how they handled this legislation. Yet what have we heard from them in response? No regret, no remorse, and no apology for how they acted.

We haven't even heard when this Bill will be brought back to parliament – something which the SNP are clearly in no rush to do.

But bring this Bill back to parliament they must. And when they do, I will stand ready, alongside each and every one of my colleagues, to ensure that further political games do not stop this historic treaty successfully becoming a part of Scottish law.