Consultation launched on Bill to allow removal of MSPs who fail to carry out duties
dailyrecord.co.ukA Tory MSP has launched a consultation period on a Bill that would enable the removal of MSPs who fail to carry out their duties.
The Removal from Office and Recall Bill - being put forward by the Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson – allows for the dismissal from office of a member if they don’t take part in parliamentary proceedings for more than six months without a valid reason.
This would bring the Scottish Parliament in line with local authorities who already have this rule in place for councillors.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.
Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The issue was highlighted most recently when Derek Mackay resigned from his role as Finance Secretary in February 2020 amid reports that he sent a 16-year-old boy inappropriate messages on social media but stayed on as an MSP until the May 2021 election.During that time, he continued to collect a salary, despite not attending meetings or votes in parliament.The Bill would also ensure the automatic removal from office of any MSP sentenced to a prison term regardless of the length of sentence.Current legislation states that jail terms need to be longer than a year for an MSP to be unseated.That means that, had he not resigned, former Dunfermline MSP, Bill Walker could have carried on despite having been convicted of 23 charges of assault and a breach of the peace in
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