Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 March 2026 [Draft]
18 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
I cannot possibly comment on why the minister is so keen to give mentally ill criminals the right to vote before the elections in May, but I will say—I am trying not to smile—that everyone outside the Holyrood bubble will think that it is ridiculous.
The SNP and Labour both supported the instrument at committee, and I dare say that other parts of the Holyrood consensus will support it again today. That just goes to show how woefully we can be out of touch with the priorities of people across Scotland. [Interruption.]
In the same item of business
21:01
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-21127, on approval of a Scottish statutory instrument. I ask Graeme Dey, on beh...
Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con)
Con
When the Scottish National Party Government first allowed some prisoners to vote in Scottish Parliament and local elections in 2020, we warned that that woul...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
Ind
Is the answer not to consider compulsory voting, so that prisoners would have to vote along with the rest of the population?
Sue Webber
Con
No, Mr Mason, the Scottish Conservatives could not condone or endorse that—as I think you knew before you put it to me—because it is totally mad, to be frank...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Let us hear one another.
Sue Webber
Con
I cannot possibly comment on why the minister is so keen to give mentally ill criminals the right to vote before the elections in May, but I will say—I am tr...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Let us hear one another.
Sue Webber
Con
Criminals forfeit their right to vote when they break the law. The SNP Government needs to focus on punishing criminals, not trying to win their support at t...
The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey)
SNP
The order responds to a European convention on human rights compliance issue that was identified in relation to voting rights for Scottish Parliament electio...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
Yes, all of that is fine, but what about compulsory voting? Laughter.
Graeme Dey
SNP
Out of respect for my good friend John Mason, I will let that one slide.On a serious point, the order will mean that, if a person who has been detained on a ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question on the motion will be put at decision time.The next item of business is consideration of seven Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask the minister,...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question on the motions will be put at decision time.