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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cosla calls for vote separation | Cosla calls for vote separation |
| (18 minutes later) | |
| Local authority leaders are to call for future council elections to be held on a different day from the vote for the Scottish Parliament. | Local authority leaders are to call for future council elections to be held on a different day from the vote for the Scottish Parliament. |
| More than 140,000 ballots were spoiled on 3 May when both votes were held. | More than 140,000 ballots were spoiled on 3 May when both votes were held. |
| Scottish council umbrella group Cosla will also criticise ministers for ignoring warnings that their ballot arrangements risked electoral chaos. | Scottish council umbrella group Cosla will also criticise ministers for ignoring warnings that their ballot arrangements risked electoral chaos. |
| Finance Secretary John Swinney said he was keen in principle to take the proposal forward. | Finance Secretary John Swinney said he was keen in principle to take the proposal forward. |
| Cosla is expected to call for the votes to be held at least one year apart. | Cosla is expected to call for the votes to be held at least one year apart. |
| Cosla officials believe running council elections at the same time as the Holyrood election, involving first past the post and two separate proportional representation systems, was directly responsible for voter confusion and the large number of spoiled papers. | Cosla officials believe running council elections at the same time as the Holyrood election, involving first past the post and two separate proportional representation systems, was directly responsible for voter confusion and the large number of spoiled papers. |
| There is a need to ensure local authorities get the opportunity to speak to the electorate on local issues without the noise of a national election John SwinneyFinance Secretary | There is a need to ensure local authorities get the opportunity to speak to the electorate on local issues without the noise of a national election John SwinneyFinance Secretary |
| They have also noted that the council elections were almost completely overshadowed in the media. | They have also noted that the council elections were almost completely overshadowed in the media. |
| Therefore they believe the elections should be separated with at least one year between the two ballots even though they recognise the extra cost involved. | Therefore they believe the elections should be separated with at least one year between the two ballots even though they recognise the extra cost involved. |
| Mr Swinney said: "Cosla's report on decoupling the Scottish Parliament and local authority elections is very helpful and I am keen in principle to take forward the suggestion they have made. | Mr Swinney said: "Cosla's report on decoupling the Scottish Parliament and local authority elections is very helpful and I am keen in principle to take forward the suggestion they have made. |
| "There is a need to ensure local authorities get the opportunity to speak to the electorate on local issues without the noise of a national election. | "There is a need to ensure local authorities get the opportunity to speak to the electorate on local issues without the noise of a national election. |
| "I will take forward early discussions with Cosla to examine the practical issues involved in this proposal before going back to parliament and parliamentary committees for further consideration. | "I will take forward early discussions with Cosla to examine the practical issues involved in this proposal before going back to parliament and parliamentary committees for further consideration. |
| "We cannot pre-empt the outcome of the current investigation into this year's election, however, the points raised by Cosla are an important contribution to the ongoing discussion on the future arrangements of elections in Scotland." | "We cannot pre-empt the outcome of the current investigation into this year's election, however, the points raised by Cosla are an important contribution to the ongoing discussion on the future arrangements of elections in Scotland." |
| Local democracy | |
| Scottish Conservative MSP Gavin Brown said: "We have been constant critics of the decision to hold these two important elections on the same day. | |
| "The arguments in favour of local democracy have been well rehearsed. The events of May 3rd have only added fresh ammunition to the compelling case for de-coupling." | |
| He said the Scottish Tories would be re-submitting a member's bill on the issue. | |
| "I am encouraged by John Swinney's comments today and will seek an early meeting with him to discuss the best way forward," he added. | |
| "If local democracy is to flourish and be truly accountable, then it must have its own day in the spotlight." |