SNP MSP Bill Kidd is calling on the Holyrood leaders of the Labour and Toryparties to stop their MSPs seeking a dual mandate by standing for Westminsterat the General Election and keeping their Holyrood seats – a move that goesagainst plans to reform Westminster.

  
Labour MSPs Margaret Curran and Cathy Jamieson and Tory MSPs John Lamont andAlex Johnstone are all standing in the forthcoming Westminster election,despite failing to tell the electorate in 2007 of their plans or planning tostand down if they happen to be elected. There have been rumours other LabourMSPs would stand to fill seats being vacated by their Westminster counterparts.

Sir Christopher Kelly’s review intoMPs' expenses, says that the practice of dual mandate should end by May 2011 –a date set to assist Northern Irish members.

  
In contrast First Minister Alex Salmond made it clear to the voters of Banffand Buchan and Gordon he would be seeking a dual mandate at both the 2005 and2007 elections, and he would stand down at the forthcoming General Election.

  
Commenting, Glasgow MSP and deputy Whip Bill Kidd  said:

“The SNP will not only abide by therules of the Kelly Commission, but we will abide by the spirit of it.

“Kelly wants no more dual mandates andthe SNP support that position.  It is ridiculous that Labour and Tory MSPswant to exploit a loophole put in specifically to help with the situation facedby politicians in Northern Ireland – to stand in both Westminster and Holyrood.

  
“This is the typical  rank hypocrisy we have come to expect from theLabour/Tory alliance. At no time in 2007 did Margaret Curran, John Lamont orAlex Johnstone tell the voters they were seeking a dual mandate at Westminster.In Margaret Curran’s case she already tried it with the electorate of GlasgowEast who gave her a resounding ‘no’. 

 “And Cathy Jamieson’s last minutebid to jump from Gray’s sinking ship to Westminster has only made Labour’ssituation worse. Labour and the Tories are playing games with the electorate -their lack of respect for voters across Scotland could not be clearer.

“It’s clear neither Ms Curran nor MsJamieson expect to be busy in either Parliament – before or after the election.

“When voters want to see Westminsterrefreshed and reformed Labour and the Tories are refusing to commit to realchange.  No wonder Labour won’t legislate for real reform before theelection.

 “The positions of these MSPsraise questions about how seriously Iain Gray and Annabel Goldie are taking therecommendations of Sir Christopher’s report and what they will tell their MSPsto do.

  
“Unless they instruct these MSPs to make up their mind about which Parliamentto sit in then Iain Gray and Annabel Goldie have lost all credibility on thisissue and their supposed position on the Kelly recommendations.”