Scottish Parliament (Candidates) Bill [HL]

My Lords, I would argue that it would be less likely. Let me explain. I know that the noble Lord used to be a constituent of mine. I have great respect for him. I suspect that he did not vote for me. But he will know that what is happening is that Phil Gallie and Adam Ingram, who are running their offices in the constituency locally, are not just doing that to help the constituents, they are doing it because at the next election they plan to stand at the constituency level and to kick out the sitting MSP. So they are using it as a political platform. My Bill will stop them doing that. I hope I have explained the situation to the noble Lord. I was going to mention another loser, Carolyn Leckie, from the Trotskyite SSP. She received about 8 per cent at constituency level and again came back by the back door. So the main purpose of the Bill is to stop the anomaly which turns losers into winners. Another argument in its favour—and I hope that this will help deal with part of a point raised by the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth—is that it makes clear that list and constituency members have different roles. The constituency member has to look after his or her constituents, has to take up constituency issues, to co-operate with the MP, with councils, health boards and so on. But when list MSPs muscle in on this we get absurdity, chaos and confusion. At the moment—to give one example, which I know about very well—the Ayrshire and Arran Health Board feels obliged not only to deal with the five constituency MSPs but also because it covers three out of eight electoral regions, it feels obliged to bring along 21 list MSPs. That is manifest nonsense as well as being a bureaucratic nightmare. The list MSP is a party representative who should therefore have a different and wider role, which is no less important, and, indeed, it could be argued, is more important. It may be preferable, for example—and I say this to the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, in case he still nurtures ambitions for power—for potential Ministers to seek election on party lists. But what should be unacceptable is what Alex Salmond is planning. He is planning to stand for the Gordon constituency, but, knowing his chances of getting elected, as I am sure the noble Lord, Lord Maclennan of Rogart, will agree, are very slim indeed, he is also planning to be on top of the SNP list in the north-east of Scotland, and, incidentally he is still planning to represent Banff and Buchan in the House of Commons—a modern day Poo Bah indeed. In conclusion, the present system is a chancers’ charter. This Bill forces candidates to decide what role they want to play. It prevents losers from being turned into winners without the approval of the electorate. It gives the power to the people to decide who should be their local MSP as well as which party or parties should form the Government. It is common sense. I cannot envisage that any member of this House would disagree. I commend the Bill to the House. Moved, That the Bill be now read a second time.—(Lord Foulkes of Cumnock.)