Exit poll: How an MSP takes their leave of Holyrood

Aquarter of MSPs are in the process of standing down ahead of the upcoming Holyrood election, while many more will face the same task of winding up their affairs should they fail to win reelection on May 6.

We have taken a look at some of the “sometimes painful but absolutely necessary” jobs they must consider and complete in order to fully “decommission”. When does an MSP stop being an MSP?

Normally, MSPs stop being MSPs when the parliament goes into dissolution, about six weeks before the election.

At this election, due to the pandemic, MSPs will legally remain as MSPs until May 5, the day before the vote, in case they need to be recalled at short notice during the coronavirus crisis.

What happens to an MSP’s office?

At Holyrood, all MSPs and their staff were asked to remove their belongings from their offices by the beginning of recess, and the election campaign period, on March 25.

Security passes for access to the parliament building were temporarily deactivated from then.

In terms of local constituency offices, it is up to each MSP to decide. They can be kept open during the election campaign for dealing with ongoing casework, but not for political campaigning or taking on new casework.

What happens to their staff ?

MSPs can have several staff members, such as office managers, case workers and communications officers. Ahead of an election, early warning notices and consultation are held due to the risk of redundancy.

Redundancy payments can be made to those who lose their job as a result of an MSP’s departure, usually of up to four weeks’ salary for each year of service, up to a maximum of one year’s salary. The human resources department at the parliament offers a career support programme for MSPs and their staff to help them move into another career.

What about any outstanding casework involving constituents?

MSPs are contacted hundreds of times each year by constituents and often have dozens of ongoing cases.

When an MSP steps down, he or she usually writes to the person to inform them and to ask whether the constituent would like the case to be passed on to another politician.

If the issue has been close to a politician’s heart, they may decide to continue to pursue the case as a private citizen.

CLOSED DOORS: The former office in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, of Michelle Thomson, who is now standing in Falkirk.