Scottish parties scrap over dual mandates

The SNP has accused two Conservative and two Labour MSPs of “lacking respect for voters” over their decisions to stand as MPs in the upcoming general election.

‘Dual mandates’—as holding office in two parliaments is known—have been frowned upon in politics since November’s Kelly Report into MPs’ expenses and allowances, which recommended the practice be ended by 2011.

Labour MSPs Margaret Curran and Cathy Jamieson, and Conservative MSPs John Lamont and Alex Johnstone are all standing in the forthcoming Westminster elections despite failing to tell the electorate of their plans in 2007.

Commenting, the SNP’s deputy whip Bill Kidd MSP said: “Labour and the Tories are playing games with the electorate—their lack of respect for voters across Scotland could not be clearer.

“When voters want to see Westminster refreshed and reformed, Labour and the Tories are refusing to commit to real change. No wonder Labour won’t legislate for real reform before the election.”

The SNP has itself attracted accusations of hypocrisy from opposition parties. The Scottish Parliament’s first minister and SNP leader Alex Salmond is currently also an MP, although he has indicated that he will not be standing at the next Westminster election.

Alongside Salmond, the only other MSP to hold a dual mandate is Labour’s Lothians MSP George Foulkes, who also sits in the House of Lords.

Lord Foulkes told The Journal: "This is rank hypocrisy from the SNP whose leader is the front runner on dual mandates and treble jobs. But there needs to be a mechanism for MPs to become MSPs: if they, the party and the electorate so wish, to allow the exchange of experience and to improve relations between Westminster and devolved Parliaments."

John Lamont, Cathy Jamieson and Margaret Curran have all insisted that if elected to Westminster, they will step down as MSPs at the Holyrood elections in 2011. All three MSPs have also committed to taking only one salary during any overlap in their roles.

Jamieson and Curran have also agreed to publish their parliamentary allowances and expenses online. Alex Johnstone could not be contacted by the time of publication.

The practice of ‘double jobbing’ in Scotland is small in scale compared to Northern Ireland where 16 out of the 18 Westminster MPs are also members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Five of them also currently hold ministerial positions.