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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 13 November 2025

13 Nov 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 1

Simpson, Graham Reform Central Scotland Watch on SPTV

I am always happy to speak to Mr Gibson and to take up his offer of help.

What he otherwise suggests is not something that I agree with. I think that it is outwith the scope of the bill, but no doubt that will be tested at stage 2.

I am suggesting that a yes/no poll would be held across the region on a given day. That would allow the electorate to vote to keep or to remove the member by a simple majority. If the member were removed, they would be replaced by the next member on the party list to which they were elected—that would address Mr Gibson’s point. If the member is an independent, they would not be replaced.

Part 2 of my bill reduces the length of custodial sentence that results in the automatic removal of an MSP from more than 12 months to six months. It also provides that if an MSP does not attend parliamentary proceedings in person for a six-month period without a good reason, the SPPA Committee can recommend to Parliament that they are removed from office. The Parliament would then vote on whether to resolve to remove them.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-19565, in the name of Graham Simpson, on the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill at ...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Reform) Reform

It has taken a long time to reach today’s stage 1 debate on the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill. I first suggested that we should do...

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

Opposing the suggestion that MSPs who change political parties should be recalled, Mr Simpson, who is now a Reform MSP, said: “People switch parties for var...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Always speak through the chair.

Graham Simpson Reform

I am always happy to speak to Mr Gibson and to take up his offer of help. What he otherwise suggests is not something that I agree with. I think that it is ...

Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con) Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Graham Simpson Reform

If I get the time back.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

There is a wee bit of time at this point, if the member wishes to take the intervention.

Graham Simpson Reform

I will take one more intervention.

Sue Webber Con

What might you consider to be “a good reason”?

Graham Simpson Reform

If you are perfectly fit and able to come in, you should come in. That is the position. I turn to the committee report. I am grateful to the committee members—

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

Will the member take another intervention?

Graham Simpson Reform

No, I will not take any more interventions—maybe I will do so later. I am grateful to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee members fo...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

Will the member take an intervention?

Graham Simpson Reform

I am afraid not, Mr Cole-Hamilton—perhaps I will be able to give way during my closing speech. It could be that that element of the bill will be removed dur...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

I congratulate Graham Simpson on getting his member’s bill to this stage. I recognise that it takes a lot of effort to progress a member’s bill through the P...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP

I thank Graham Simpson for his open and constructive engagement on the bill, and the non-Government bills unit for its work on it. I, too, thank the Standard...

Alex Cole-Hamilton LD

Will the minister give way?

Graeme Dey SNP

Alex Cole-Hamilton LD

This is the intervention that I wanted to make during Graham Simpson’s opening speech; I still intend to make an intervention when he is making his closing r...

Graeme Dey SNP

I would certainly be prepared to explore that with the member. He gets to the nub of today’s activity: we should be exploring whether the proposals in front ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Martin Whitfield to speak on behalf of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. 15:21

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I thank everyone who contributed to the scrutiny of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) (Scotland) Bill; the respondents to the Standards...

Jackson Carlaw (Eastwood) (Con) Con

Will the member give way on that point?

Martin Whitfield Lab

I am more than happy to, Mr Carlaw.

Jackson Carlaw Con

Therein lies the problem, because, if we had passed this legislation in 2015, the hybrid arrangements that we now have would not have been reflected in it, a...

Martin Whitfield Lab

I am grateful for that intervention. It is true that there are known unknowns and unknown unknowns. We do not know what the position would have been if histo...

Sue Webber Con

Will the member give way?

Martin Whitfield Lab

Sue Webber Con

I am recalling the committee’s discussion on the use of language and how we were careful not to use the word “excuse” in any of the recommendations in our re...