MSPs back more election control for Holyrood

The Scottish Parliament could be given more control over local elections after a Holyrood committee backed legislation to strengthen its remit.

Under the local Electoral Administration Bill, a new board would oversee council elections in Scotland and extend the Electoral Commission's remit.

MSPs on the Local Government and Communities Committee have now agreed to support the Bill at its first stage, meaning it can now progress for further scrutiny.

The committee recommended that the UK Government should consider further extensions to the Electoral Management Board to cover elections to the House of Commons, the European Parliament and referendums.

The Bill is one of a number of measures following a report by Ron Gould, who investigated problems with spoilt ballots and confusion over the three voting systems used in the 2007 Scottish election.

The Gould report also recommended the separation of the local government and Scottish Government elections, taken forward by the Scottish Local Government Elections Act 2009.

Committee convener Duncan McNeil, a Labour MSP, said: "The committee supports the general principles of the Bill and recommends to the Parliament that the Bill be approved."