Written submission on the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill

This written evidence explores three key aspects of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill, which proposes to introduce new legal mechanisms for MSPs to be recalled if specified triggers are met. With reference to international examples, we first consider the underlying rationale and justification for introducing mechanisms to recall politicians. The second section focuses on the problematic features of the proposed procedure for recalling regional Members of the Scottish Parliament, arguing instead for a regional by-election model to be adopted. The final part of the submission highlights potential impacts of the Bill's proposals on Scotland's rural communities.