Cost of sacking MSPs could be ‘extreme’, Holyrood committee told

The cost of sacking MSPs could be “extreme”, a Holyrood committee has been told.

MSPs heard a successful recall that led to a full regional poll could cost Scottish taxpayers “in excess of £1 million”.

Malcolm Burr, convener of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland, said the cost of administering a recall in large regions such as the Highlands and islands would be “significant”.

Mr Burr gave evidence to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee as it examined proposals that could see misbehaving MSPs sacked by the public.

Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson has proposed the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill, which would provide a route for constituents to recall MSPs.

Currently, MSPs can only lose their seats if they are sentenced to 12 months or more in prison. At Westminster, a recall petition can be initiated if an MP is sent to prison or suspended for 10 sitting days.

Mr Simpson’s Bill would lower the threshold in Holyrood to six months and would allow for a similar petition to be called if the MSP in question has been sentenced to jail or suspended from the Parliament for 10 sitting days.

For a recall petition to be effective, 10% of the MSP’s constituents must sign it, which would result in them losing their seat.

But given the existence of regional MSPs in Scotland, the system cannot simply mirror that of Westminster.

Under the plans, 10% of constituents in three seats making up a region would be required to sign the petition to sack a list MSP.

The Bill also takes aim at MSPs who do not physically attend the Scottish Parliament and would create a mechanism where other elected members can disqualify someone who does not show up for six months without a valid reason.

Speaking to MSPs on Thursday, Mr Burr said the cost of the system would have to be taken into account.

He said: “I think the proportionality of costs has to be a factor.

“Obviously, for local authorities and returning officers or petition officers, costs will presumably be met, but those costs themselves are potentially quite extreme.

“I would suggest, in the case of a full regional poll, possibly in excess of £1 million.

“I am thinking of my own region of the Highlands and islands, the costs of administering a full regional poll there, which we have never had to consider until now, would be significant.

“And when that’s a general election, of course, that’s necessary.

“I think it’s legitimate to consider the costs and indeed the disruption to local authorities who will undertake the bulk of these duties on behalf of returning and petition officers.”

Peter Stanyon, chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, urged MSPs to ensure the Bill is kept “as simple as possible” so it is understood by voters.

“If we are going to do the recall, it just needs to be as simple and clear and easy to administer for both the electorate and for administrators going forward,” he said.