SNP WELCOME INDEPENDENT STANDARDS AUTHORITY PLAN

SNP WELCOME INDEPENDENT STANDARDS AUTHORITY PLAN

WESTMINSTER MUST MATCH SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT STANDARDS

The Parliamentary Standards Authority Bill published today (Tuesday) must match Scottish Parliament standards of transparency, including the introduction of criminal penalties against MPs who break expense rules or fail to properly register financial interests.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP – who made the case at cross-party talks for reforms including the creation of an independent watchdog for MPs' allowances and quarterly publishing of expenses – said the Scottish Parliament offered the answers on how Westminster must reform.

Mr Robertson said:

“Westminster has been dragged kicking and screaming towards transparency, and we must not stop until we have trustworthy and transparent system in place.

“The establishment of an independent parliamentary regulator with the power to fine, suspend and expel MPs cannot come a moment too soon.

“It is essential that we move to a trustworthy system - and the Scottish Parliament sets the benchmark on how that can be done. Westminster must match Scottish Parliament standards of transparency, including the introduction of criminal penalties against MPs who break the rules on expenses or fail to properly declare financial interests.

“The Scottish Parliament has shown the way with legal sanctions that can be applied against wayward parliamentarians, and Westminster must introduce the same sanctions against MPs that break the rules

“We now need to get on with the independent audit of the last four years of claims so that MPs’ accounts can be cleared or otherwise, and we get on with the urgent process of restoring public confidence.

“The Scottish Parliament introduced reforms on an all-party basis when it was necessary to do so, and where Holyrood has led the Westminster parliament must now follow.”