All parties must back campaign to end dual mandates (South Of Scotland Liberal Democrats)

All parties must back campaign to end dual mandates

December 24, 2009 9:17 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Shadow Scotland Secretary, Alistair Carmichael today challenged Labour, the SNP and the Conservatives to back his campaign to stop people sitting as both MPs and MSPs.

Alistair Carmichael has tabled a motion calling for the House of Commons to back the recommendation in the Kelly Report which states that "the practice of permitting a Westminster MP simultaneously to sit in a devolved legislature should be brought to an end".

However, while all three of Scotland's other major parties have criticised the practice, so far none have signed the motion.

Commenting, Alistair Carmichael said:

"Labour, the SNP and the Tories have all been happy to criticise people who plan to double up their salaries by sitting as both MPs and MSPs. I hope they will now back the Liberal Democrats' campaign to bring this unacceptable practice to an end.

"People cannot serve their constituents properly if they have to be in two places at once. Whether they are in the North East or the Borders, Scots deserve separate MPs and MSPs who will be able to represent their interests fully.

"All Scotland's parties must act together now to back the independent Kelly Report's recommendation to end dual mandates. People's faith in politics has been badly shaken. This will not be helped by the sight of members drawing wages from both London and Edinburgh."

Notes:

1. The full text of the motion is as follows:

That this House welcomes the report from Sir Christopher Kelly looking into hon. Members' expenses entitled Supporting Parliament, Safeguarding the Taxpayer; recognises the wide cross-party support for Sir Christopher's recommendations; notes and agrees with recommendation 40 in the Kelly Report which states that the practice of permitting a Westminster MP simultaneously to sit in a devolved legislature should be brought to an end; further notes with disappointment that no mention of the report and recommendations was made in the recent Queen's Speech; and calls on the Government to bring forward primary legislation where needed and implement the Kelly Report as soon as possible.

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39694&SESSION=903

2. The Conservatives, SNP and Labour have all attacked dual mandates:

Conservatives

Conservative Shadow Scotland Secretary, David Mundell: "Mr Salmond has two jobs when many people in Scotland don't have a single job at all. That is quite wrong." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/4640375/Alex-Salmond-told-to-quit-as-MP-after-poor-Westminster-record.html

Scottish Conservative Leader, Annabel Goldie: "[Alex Salmond] is letting down the people of Banff and Buchan. They deserve better and he should resign as an MP immediately." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/4640375/Alex-Salmond-told-to-quit-as-MP-after-poor-Westminster-record.html

SNP

Bob Doris MSP has criticised Margaret Curran MSP's plans to stand for a Westminster seat in Glasgow as "completely against the spirit of the Kelly recommendation", adding: "Since 2007, we now have Sir Christopher Kelly's recommendation setting out clearly that dual-mandating should end by 2011 - Labour and Tory MSPs have completely ignored the spirit of these recommendations by trying to create NEW dual mandates. This just highlights their lack of commitment to changing the Westminster system". http://www.glasgowsnp.org/MSPs/Bob_Doris_MSP/Curran_dual_mandate_bid_%27rank_hypocrisy%27/

Alasdair Allan MSP: "The positions of Margaret Curran and Lord Foulkes raise questions about how seriously Iain Gray is taking the recommendations of Sir Christopher's recommendations and what he will tell his MSPs to do. Allowing one to stand and the other to actively take part in the proceedings of the House of Lords only flies in the face of those recommendations." He also attacked over plans to seek Westminster seats "not only one but two of Ms Goldie's own MSPs one of whom who is a regional list MSP and who could resign his seat without risking the loss of a Tory MSP. Both fly in the face of Sir Christopher's proposals." http://www.glasgowsnp.org/News/SNP_News/Gray_blunders_into_dual_mandate_by_forgetting_Curran%27s_candidacy/

Labour

Iain Gray has criticised Alex Salmond's membership of two parliaments, saying of SNP councillors: "Unlike their boss, they gave up their dual mandate". http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/three-by-election-wins-for-scottish-labour-2-gain-1-hold

South Of Scotland Liberal Democrats