Holyrood to debate bill to make it easier to unseat MSPs

Scottish Tory MSP Graham Simpson lodged the final proposals for the Removal from Office and Recall Bill on Tuesday.

The legislation, if passed, would introduce new measures to allow MSPs to be withdrawn from their roles, including additional grounds for dismissal and new processes to be put in place for any removals.

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The rule change would bring the parliament in line with procedures in local authorities, where councillors are removed if they don’t take part in proceedings for six months without a valid reason.

Simpson is now seeking cross-party support for his legislation which would ensure any MSP given a prison sentence would be automatically removed from office.

In 2013, a majority of MSPs had to back a motion calling for the resignation of SNP politician Bill Walker after he was convicted of assault and breach of the peace charges.

The bill is being brought forward by Scottish Tory MSP Graham Simpson (Image: NQ Staff)

Simpson said: “I’m pleased my bill to ensure that it will be easier to remove MSPs who don’t carry out their duties has now reached this stage.

“The consultation responses were positive and showed a desire among the public for them to have the ability to remove politicians from the Scottish Parliament who are clearly not serving those who put them into that privileged position.

“Taxpayers should not be continuing to subsidise MSPs who do not even turn up to the Parliament, yet can still claim a large salary and expenses.

“Local authorities have this ability to remove councillors and constituents of MPs have the ability to recall them and hold them to account for their misconduct.

“It is time the Scottish Parliament caught up and my plans would mean the public can be confident in the future that this would occur with MSPs who have fallen short of the standards expected of them.”

The legislation would create procedures to remove MSPs who have failed to participate in parliament, are imprisoned, or receive serious sanctions for breaching parliamentary rules.

“I hope that my fellow MSPs will see that my Recall Bill is common sense and that it will secure cross-party support. I urge all of them to back it.”

There was also criticism of a lack of mechanism for the public to remove an MSP after former finance secretary Derek Mackay quit his post in February 2020, on the eve of the Scottish Budget, after it emerged he had sent over 100 text messages to a teenage boy.

Mackay did not return to the public eye or Holyrood until he resigned as an MSP ahead of the Holyrood election in May 2021.

An SNP spokesperson said: "It is for the parliament to decide whether these proposals should be adopted. The SNP will consider any proposals that are brought forward."