Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston is encouraging local people to share their views on a proposed Removal and Recall bill in the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Halcro Johnston is backing the bill which is being put forward by fellow Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson.
The plans, which have also been referred to as Mackay’s Law, will allow for the dismissal of an MSP if they fail to take part in parliamentary proceedings for more than six months without a valid reason.
Mackay’s Law refers to former SNP Finance Secretary Derek Mackay who resigned from that role in February 2020 and continued to collect his salary until the May 2021 election, despite not turning up or voting in Parliament.
The bill also includes measures that would guarantee the automatic removal from office of any MSP sentenced to a prison sentence, regardless of its length.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: “Serving as an MSP is a great privilege and honour and we should expect those who have the opportunity to serve to take it very seriously indeed.
“If they don’t, and they bring the position into disrepute by non-attendance or by being imprisoned, then I believe they should be removed from office.
“However if we are going to change the rules then it is important that we learn the views of the people that we represent.
“And that’s why I am encouraging voters from across the Highlands and Islands to participate in the consultation which can be accessed at: www.parliament.scot/MSP-removal-from-office, and has a closing date of 13 April 2022.”
