Lib Dem bid to let public sack MSPS
Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie wants a new law to make it easier to sack MSPS.
He is ready to introduce legislation as MSP Mark Mcdonald resists calls to quit Holyrood after he admitted behaving inappropriately towards women.
The former childcare minister’s conduct is under investigation by the public ethics watchdog but his constituents don’t have the ability to make him face another election.
At Westminster, a by-election can be triggered if 10% of constituents sign a petition after an MP is found guilty of “serious wrongdoing” by Parliament.
Mr Rennie has asked every other party leader in Scotland to try and forge crossparty consensus about how to bring in similar laws at Holyrood.
But he told The Sunday Post he is prepared to introduce a private member’s bill, adding: “There is little point in being outraged about the events of recent weeks if you are not prepared to take the steps to tackle it.”
A Scottish Labour spokesman said that party leader Richard Leonard was willing to meet Mr Rennie to discuss a recall Bill.
The Scottish Greens want a committee, not the public to be able to sack politicians. The Conservatives said MSPS would “have to be extremely careful” with any recall laws.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said any proposals were a matter for Parliament.