Monteith attacks 'absurd' system to replace MSPs

Published on Thursday 10 November 2005 02:12

BRIAN Monteith, the newly- independent MSP, hit out yesterday at the "absurd" system under which a Conservative MSP would be created without a by-election if he quit Holyrood.

Mr Monteith resigned the Tory whip in the parliament and later quit the party after admitting that he had undermined David McLetchie's leadership. If he were now to resign as an MSP, there would be no by-election; he would simply be replaced by the next name on the Conservative list for Mid Scotland and Fife from the 2003 elections - a Fife councillor, Mike Scott-Hayward.

This is because Mr Monteith was elected from the Tory list and the electoral rules state that the next candidate in line will be elected as an MSP in the event of the loss of a list MSP. "It is another example of why the list system should be abolished," said Mr Monteith.

He does not intend to quit the parliament before the 2007 elections, but admitted it was a possibility if he was offered a good job outside of Holyrood.