Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat Shadow Scotland Secretary, has tabled amendments to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill aimed at bringing an end to MSPs and MPs holding both jobs at the same time.
The amendments follow legislation backed by both the Government and the Conservatives which seeks to end ‘double jobbing’ by Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLAs) who are also MPs. They offer two options:
- a measure which would end the ability of MPs who are also MSPs to receive salaries from both jobs, along the same lines as the Government and Conservative-backed legislation on MLAs and intended to act as a disincentive
- an outright ban, which would require any MSP who became an MP – or vice-versa – to stand down from one of the positions within one week of being elected
Alistair Carmichael says of his amendments:
Scots deserve proper representation, not part-timers. MPs clearly cannot be in two places at once – especially if like Westminster and Holyrood, they are 400 miles apart.
This demonstrates contempt for the electorate. MPs cannot get away with offering a second rate service to voters and taking them for granted.
Both Labour and the Tories have admitted that MPs who are also members of devolved bodies cannot do both jobs properly. They have no excuse not to back these amendments which would end this outdated practice in Scotland.
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6 Comments
Was Alastair thinking of any Scottish politician in particular I wonder?
Shouldn’t we also include AMs and Councillors in this, and just prevent dual mandates altogether?
We should not ban dual mandates , which should be left to the voters to decide
James S: it depends what you mean by banning dual mandates altogether. There’s really no reason why someone can’t be an effective district and county councillor in the same area, for example: neither should be a full-time position, anyway, and the “being in two places at once” argument doesn’t apply.
simonmcg: In principle, you’re right, but of course there’s a problem: one-third of Welsh AMs and over 40% of MSPs are elected on party lists, so the voters have very little say in the matter.
If the people wish to elect the same person to two positions why should the law be made to intervene to stop them?
Who knows better, the electorare or Alistair Carmichael?
I have equal reservations about Liberal Democrats amendments to the Constitutional Reform Bill to stop Lords standing down and standing for election to the Commons. Why shouldn’t the people be free to elect a former Lord if that is their wish? And why is it only the Commons that they want to keep former Lords out of?
I would rather reduced the number of MPs appointed almost as of right to the Lords.
Sir,
I am extremely pleased to see action being taken in respect of politicians holding dual rolls as in responsible to westminster and holyrood, not before time it was called for an end to this situation and clarified.
May I offer my congratulations on your success in retaining your seat at the election.At this stage I am uncertain about the wisdom of the coalition with the conservative party, time alone will decide.
One aspect of conservative policy I would agree with however is replacing the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights and would be interested in your view and if you would support such a Bill. In conversation with many of my friends and colleagues they also are concerned about the lack of balance in the current Human Rights Bill as it stands although it has many good points.
Sincerely
M.Bell