Design Flaw

I read the other day that the Scottish Parliament has been discussing whether it can stop the payment of an MSP's salary - if the said MSP is sent to jail.

Now I am not a shockable person, but I have to say that I'm almost lost for words - that the Scottish Parliament can waste time and effort debating such a crazy issue.

Because how is it even possible that someone in the 'slammer' could continue to be paid their salary - if they are unable to carry out the responsibilities of their job?

Apparently a committee of MSPs have come up with a plan to 'dock' 90% of the member's pay if he ends up going to jail for up to 1 year - as many expect.

Yet like everyone else I am left wondering what he can possibly be doing - to 'earn' the remaining 10% of his pay when he's doing time at Her Majesty's pleasure. 

So I welcome the First Minister's declaration that the Scottish Parliament must find a way of sorting this problem out - one way or the other. 

Power of Recall (24 August 2013)

The conviction of Bill Walker MSP for repeated domestic abuse and violent attacks upon a succession of women provides the Scottish Parliament with a big challenge - the need for a Power of Recall over the country's law makers. 

The Westminster Parliament has been struggling with this issue in recent years, but predictably nothing as happened- just as nothing has happened over reforming the House of Lords, for example.

So I sincerely hope that the Holyrood Parliament will rise to the occasion and - on an all party basis - use this opportunity to make MSPs more accountable to the people they claim to represent. 

Let's see if Scotland's legislators and political parties can work in the public interest to deliver a change - that the whole country will wholeheartedly support.   

People Power 3 June 2013)

The latest scandal to hit the Westminster Parliament - the 'cash for questions' row involving Tory MP Patrick Mercer - simply highlights the need for voters in the UK to have a power of recall over their MPs.

When the great MPs expenses scandal brought the reputation of Westminster - the Mother of Parliaments - to al all-time low there was all-party agreement that a power of recall over MPs was a idea - whose time had finally come.

To my mind, it is completely ridiculous that Patrick Mercer should be able to continue as an MP even though he has resigned the Tory Whip - because he was elected as a Tory MP and if he wants to change his allegiance during a Parliament, that's fine.

But he should at least be forced to face the electorate again because otherwise he's there on  false pretences - and the same general principle should apply to all elected representatives including MPs, MSPs and local councillors.

Here's what I wrote on the subject last year - in November 2012.  
  
Power of Recall (3 November 2012)

The former Labour minister and current MP for Rotheram - Denis McShane - has become the latest 'honourable' member to fall victim to a parliamentary expenses scandal.

Despite paying back over £12,000 - which he falsely and deliberately claimed - Denis McShane was facing 12 months suspension from the House of Commons - following a long and detailed investigation by the parliament's Standards and Privileges Committee (CSP).

So McShane jumped before he was pushed and has now ended his own parliamentary career by resigning from his Rotherham seat - which will now trigger a by-election and potentially a new police investigation into his dishonest behaviour.

The amazing thing is that the MP stopped co-operating with the CSP investigation into his expense earlier this year.

Yet no action was taken to discipline McShane for his outrageous behaviour - only after the CSP announced its decision did Labour withdraw the whip - effectively expelling him from the party.

But if things had turned out differently McShane could have escaped justice - and continued as an MP for years while still drawing his £65,000 annual salary - until the next general election.

As others have done of course - such as Eric Joyce the former Labour MP for Falkirk.

What the UK needs is a similar system to the one that operates in other countries such as America - where elected representatives can be 'recalled' by the local electorate - if they have badly misbehaved and brought their elected office into disrepute.

In fact a power of 'recall' was widely debated in the wake of the Westminster MPs' expenses scandal - yet the idea has been quietly allowed to drop instead of being turned into a reality.

Yet making our elected representatives more accountable in such circumstances is surely in everyone's interests - so there is no good reason to explain why all the political parties have gone cold on the idea.