Labour pledges to reform Holyrood to enable greater scrutiny
Labour has pledged to reform Holyrood to enable greater scrutiny of the Scottish Government - including a ban on MSPs holding second jobs.
Labour has pledged to reform Holyrood to enable greater scrutiny of the Scottish Government - including a ban on MSPs holding second jobs.
Scottish Labour's democracy spokeswoman Claire Baker said the party would put forward proposals to reform the way the Scottish Parliament works.
Speaking ahead of MSPs returning to the Parliament on Monday, she said: “Our manifesto contained many proposals for reforming the Scottish Parliament that received backing from all opposition parties. We will work with other parties to make them a reality.
“As a start, the Presiding Officer and the majority of committee convenerships should not come from the governing party. We saw in the last term that SNP-dominated committees did not provide anywhere near the level of scrutiny that the Government's work required. We will work to change that.
“But we must go further. People require confidence that the politicians they elect to serve are giving them the full attention they deserve. Being a member of the Scottish Parliament is an immense privilege and it should be the only job that MSPs do. That is why we will push for a ban on MSPs holding second jobs, including paid directorships and consultancies.”
An SNP spokesman said: “Parliament will decide all of these issues in a consensual, democratic way, as it always has done. The shape of Holyrood's committees is determined by the strength of parties in the parliament - again in line with democratic principles. And it isn't for any single MSP or party - certainly not those who lost the election by a country mile - to try and dictate terms.
“The SNP government will seek to work with all parties to find consensus wherever possible, if it is in the interests of the people of Scotland.
“At the same time, Ruth Davidson and Labour need to respect the verdict of voters across Scotland, who have handed the SNP an overwhelming victory at this election and with it a clear mandate from the public to deliver on our manifesto commitments.''