MSPs banned from spending public funds on 'propaganda'

HOLYROOD politicians have been banned from using taxpayers' money to send out reports which officials fear could be used as propaganda in the run-up to the election.

Under long-standing rules, MSPs are allowed to claim expenses for printing and distribution of annual reports to constituents, informing them of their work over the year.

But the cross-party Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body discovered at least one politician was planning to publish a report covering their work over the whole four-year term shortly before the election.

Now the SPCB has ruled MSPs are not entitled to claim for four-yearly reports.

One source said: "This ruling is intended to ensure MSPs are careful about what they do in the run-up to the election. Some of them tend to get carried away with themselves.

"What we don't want is MSPs saying 'Here is my programme I pursued over the last four years'."