Members of the House of Lords would be disqualified from serving in the Scottish Parliament under proposals lodged today by Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer.
Peers have been barred from voting in general elections and are not allowed to stand for election to the House of Commons. Mr Greer’s proposal, lodged as an amendment to the Elections Bill, would also disqualify them from taking office as MSPs.
Ross Greer MSP said: “The House of Lords is an antidemocratic and archaic institution. It should be a source of embarrassment to the UK that more than half of Westminster’s lawmakers are completely unelected and unaccountable, including some who quite clearly paid for their peerages with dodgy donations to one party or another.
“The only way you should get to decide on the laws of this country is via a fair election. Every MSP is democratically elected, but there is a clear conflict between this and sitting in the unelected Lords. If a peer wants to serve in Holyrood, they should resign their membership of the Lords first.
“A handful of peers have been elected as MSPs since the Scottish Parliament was re-established. Most have done a fantastic job of advocating for their constituents and representing their communities.
“This amendment is not about individuals, it is about democracy and accountability. I hope that MSPs across all parties will put those principles first by supporting my amendment.”