Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-20049, in the name of Michael Russell, on the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Bill at s...

The Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations (Michael Russell) SNP

At the outset, members might like to know that this is the first stage 1 debate on a bill that will require a supermajority to pass at its final stage. That ...

Adam Tomkins (Glasgow) (Con) Con

I understand that the cabinet secretary wishes to equate the franchise in Scotland with residency. He will equally understand that there is a tradition that ...

Michael Russell SNP

I will not go into a dissertation on citizenship here. What I am talking about is whether, if someone is a member of a society and is resident in that societ...

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Green

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Michael Russell SNP

I will make my point first. As I said, I have considerable sympathy for the benefit of extending rights to people who have come to our country in the most ...

Mark Ruskell Green

Has the cabinet secretary, or have his officials, considered whether asylum registration cards, which are a form of photo ID, could provide an adequate form ...

Michael Russell SNP

As I have indicated to Mr Ruskell before—I do so again now—I am always open to ideas on the matter. One possibility might be to effect a change at a later da...

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Does the cabinet secretary accept that, given the very small number of people that we would expect to be involved, it is a bit of a stretch to suggest that t...

Michael Russell SNP

With respect, I think that it is different. In those circumstances, we would be giving the right to stand to someone who could in no sense be confident that ...

Adam Tomkins Con

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Michael Russell SNP

I ask the member to allow me to make some progress. There were, of course, other views. Some people proposed a different sentence threshold or the complete ...

Adam Tomkins Con

I do not disagree with the cabinet secretary at all when he says that the proposals in the bill are likely to fall within the margin of appreciation that is ...

Michael Russell SNP

The UK Government has taken a much smaller step, but that step has not yet been challenged. As Adam Tomkins will know, as he is more experienced than I am in...

Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) SNP

As convener of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, it is my pleasure to speak on behalf of the committee. I thank all those who pro...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Would the member concede that the ECHR does not contain a specific right to vote?

Bill Kidd SNP

I thank the member for that question. The bill seeks to comply with the ECHR by proposing that those serving sentences of 12 months or less should have the r...

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I echo the convener’s comments—although we did not always agree, we had a very constructive discussion. First, as a member of the Standards, Procedures and...

Michael Russell SNP

Will the member give way?

Jamie Halcro Johnston Con

I would like to make a bit of progress. The wider point is that citizenship is a legal relationship that binds an individual with the state. It is not about...

Neil Findlay Lab

I have to say that, given the policy agenda of Mr Cameron, he makes many people physically sick.

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

Can we have a bit more respect for members?

Jamie Halcro Johnston Con

I thank the member for that extraordinarily helpful, positive and productive comment, which I will gloss over. Admittedly, a lifting of all restrictions is ...

Michael Russell SNP

If the member wishes to talk about inconsistency, will he look at the decision in the rest of the UK, which means that any prisoner who is on temporary relea...

Jamie Halcro Johnston Con

The point is that those people are not in prison, whereas the people who are to be given the vote under the bill are in prison. On the nature of offences, t...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to open the debate on behalf of the Labour Party. We commend the committee for its stage 1 report on the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Repre...

Adam Tomkins Con

I will ask Alex Rowley the same question that I asked the cabinet secretary. I completely understand the argument that the franchise should be connected to r...

Alex Rowley Lab

Neil Findlay has just said to me, “No taxation without representation.” People are paying their taxes and contributing while living in this country. The cabi...

Liam Kerr Con

Is there any evidence from the countries that the member mentioned as having no such ban that there is an improvement in rehabilitation outcomes?

Alex Rowley Lab

I do not know—that is the point that I am making. Those countries have that policy in place and we need to look at the evidence. I have not yet looked at tha...