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
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 history had chosen differently. We need to look at the position that we are in now. As a representative of the committee that has the responsibility for standing orders, I point out that we need to take account of what we do at the moment. It is right to say that a not insignificant number of members have been able to fully contribute to proceedings of this Parliament remotely, which would not have been possible without the hybrid arrangements that we now have.
The committee had concerns about the process for deciding what constituted a reasonable explanation for absence. The proposed process gives rise to serious questions about privacy. It would seem inappropriate to make the committee the vehicle for investigating, and for making a decision on, a member’s explanation. The committee is not persuaded by that proposal. We would invite Mr Simpson—
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
Absolutely.
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
I am happy to.
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...