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| Holyrood debates cut in salaries of jailed MSPs | Holyrood debates cut in salaries of jailed MSPs |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Holyrood is to be asked to agree to a change in parliament's rules which would dock 90% of the salary of any jailed MSP while they are in prison. | Holyrood is to be asked to agree to a change in parliament's rules which would dock 90% of the salary of any jailed MSP while they are in prison. |
| The move was prompted by the case of Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker who was convicted of 23 domestic abuse charges. | The move was prompted by the case of Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker who was convicted of 23 domestic abuse charges. |
| He initially resisted calls for him to quit but stepped down on Saturday. | He initially resisted calls for him to quit but stepped down on Saturday. |
| Parliamentary officials stressed that the move on pay was going ahead as it was always intended to cover all MSPs, not just Bill Walker. | Parliamentary officials stressed that the move on pay was going ahead as it was always intended to cover all MSPs, not just Bill Walker. |
| Meanwhile, Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick will open talks with party leaders about the date for the by-election in Dunfermline. | Meanwhile, Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick will open talks with party leaders about the date for the by-election in Dunfermline. |
| Electoral law, which is reserved to Westminster, states that MSPs can only be ejected from Holyrood if they are sentenced to more than a year in prison. | Electoral law, which is reserved to Westminster, states that MSPs can only be ejected from Holyrood if they are sentenced to more than a year in prison. |
| Walker was convicted of a string of domestic abuse offences against his ex-wives and step-daughter in a summary trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. | Walker was convicted of a string of domestic abuse offences against his ex-wives and step-daughter in a summary trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. |
| However, the court only has power to imprison him for up to a year when he is sentenced on 20 September, giving him the option of continuing as an MSP. | However, the court only has power to imprison him for up to a year when he is sentenced on 20 September, giving him the option of continuing as an MSP. |
| Walker initially rejected a motion to quit, signed by the vast majority of MSPs, and only relented on Saturday. | Walker initially rejected a motion to quit, signed by the vast majority of MSPs, and only relented on Saturday. |
| Proposals to dock imprisoned MSPs' pay had already been presented by the Scottish Parliament corporate body (SPCB). | Proposals to dock imprisoned MSPs' pay had already been presented by the Scottish Parliament corporate body (SPCB). |
| A Scottish Parliament spokesman said the amendment to the Scottish Parliament salaries scheme would still be tabled despite Walker's resignation. | A Scottish Parliament spokesman said the amendment to the Scottish Parliament salaries scheme would still be tabled despite Walker's resignation. |
| Announcing the amendment to MSPs last Thursday, Holyrood Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick said: "The SPCB is strongly persuaded by the proposition that any member who is unable to carry out their full range of functions as a result of being imprisoned should not receive their full salary. | Announcing the amendment to MSPs last Thursday, Holyrood Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick said: "The SPCB is strongly persuaded by the proposition that any member who is unable to carry out their full range of functions as a result of being imprisoned should not receive their full salary. |
| "From reviewing the core functions of a member as set out in the SPCB paper, we recommend that 90% of salary should be withheld for the duration of imprisonment. | "From reviewing the core functions of a member as set out in the SPCB paper, we recommend that 90% of salary should be withheld for the duration of imprisonment. |
| "In recommending this course of action to parliament, it should be made clear we do not seek to encroach upon the role of the courts. Our approach should in no way be interpreted as a punishment; that is for the courts." | "In recommending this course of action to parliament, it should be made clear we do not seek to encroach upon the role of the courts. Our approach should in no way be interpreted as a punishment; that is for the courts." |