CRAIG Hoy, a Conservative MSP for South Scotland, is encouraging everyone to share their views on a proposed Removal and Recall bill in the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Hoy is backing the bill which is being put forward by Conservative Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson.
The plans, which have also been referred to as Mackay’s Law, will allow for the dismissal of an MSP if they fail to take part in parliamentary proceedings for more than six months without a valid reason.
Mackay’s Law refers to former SNP Finance Secretary Derek Mackay who resigned from that role in February 2020 and continued to collect his salary until the May 2021 election, despite not turning up or voting in Parliament.
Mr Hoy is also backing plans in the bill that would guarantee the automatic removal from office of any MSP sentenced to a prison sentence, regardless of its length.
He commented: “I am proud to be supporting the bill brought forward by my Scottish Conservative colleague Graham Simpson.
“The vast majority of MSPs enter politics for the right reasons - to serve their constituents well - but there have been cases where members have abused their position and fallen short of the standards people expect of them.
“This Bill will address that and provide the levers to remove MSPs who don’t fulfil their Parliamentary duties.
“Taxpayers in constituencies like East Lothian should not be paying for an empty seat in Parliament and be left without representation if their MSP is imprisoned.
“This Bill represents common sense, and I encourage everyone in East Lothian to make their views known via the consultation over the next few months. I will also be encouraging MSPs of all parties to back the plans.”
You can respond to the consultation on the removal and Recall Bill by visiting www.parliament.scot/MSP-removal-from-office, with the consultation closing on 13 April 2022.
