Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Michael Matheson Resignation

Douglas Ross S6M-13365 That the Parliament believes that Michael Matheson should resign as an MSP for misusing taxpayers’ money and making misleading statements. Jackie Baillie S6M-13365.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-13365 in the name of Douglas Ross (Michael Matheson Resignation), insert at end “, and further believes that the people of Scotland should have the same right to recall MSPs as they do to recall MPs from the UK Parliament, if they are found to have behaved inappropriately by the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.” Patrick Harvie S6M-13365.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-13365 in the name of Douglas Ross (Michael Matheson Resignation), leave out from “should” to end and insert "has been investigated by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), and that decisions on sanctions are a matter for Parliament on the recommendations of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee; rejects the calls for sanctions that go far beyond those recommended by the committee; believes that the Parliament requires a sanctions process that can retain confidence across all political parties; recognises that concerns have arisen in relation to the lack of a consistent tariff of sanctions, the *potential* pre-judging of a case by an MSP who did not recuse themselves from the process, and the leaking of draft recommendations by the committee, and agrees, therefore, that reform of the current arrangements for considering sanctions against MSPs is urgently needed."