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PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nOpposition MSPs are calling for dual mandates to be banned after SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn launched a bid to hold seats at both Holyrood and Westminster. <\/p>\n Conservative MSP Graham Simpson will re-table an amendment to the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill to outlaw so-called double jobbing in time for the 2026 election. <\/p>\n A vote could be held before Christmas, with both Labour and the Greens supporting the move. <\/p>\n The minority SNP government previously said it supported considering a ban, but that a consultation should be held.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Flynn faced criticism, including from within his party<\/a>, after announcing that he intended to stand for the SNP in Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat at the 2026 Holyrood election. <\/p>\n He said he also intended to remain at Westminster until the next general election, currently scheduled for 2029. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Flynn and SNP colleagues previously criticised former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross for holding two seats at once. <\/p>\n The SNP Westminster leader said<\/a> the reaction had not been “pleasant”, but that he would not be “hounded out” from standing up for his beliefs. <\/p>\n Under Simpson’s proposals, an MP who is elected to Holyrood would have to stand down from Westminster within eight days.<\/p>\n Writing in the Daily Record<\/a>, he said holding a so-called dual mandate was wrong and that Flynn’s announcement helped him make up his mind on the issue. <\/p>\n “The Scottish Parliament should be given the opportunity to end this nonsense ahead of 2026 and I will give it that chance,” Simpson wrote. <\/p>\n “I will re-table my amendments on this so that parties can do the right thing and show that MSPs think the practice of double jobbing is no longer acceptable.”<\/p>\n The Central Scotland MSP withdrew a previous amendment to ban the practice after Parliamentary Business Minister Jamie Hepburn said<\/a> he supported considering a ban on dual mandates, but that he wanted to launch a consultation on the issue. <\/p>\n Hepburn said a ban, which could also apply to councillors and peers in the House of Lords, would not be in place by the 2026 election if a consultation takes place. <\/p>\n Simpson, who wants a ban in place before then, highlighted that dual mandates had already been banned in Wales and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n It would be up to the Presiding Officer to decide whether the amendment is selected for debate and a vote at stage three of the bill’s journey through parliament. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The SNP group have 62 MSPs, short of the 65 required for a majority. <\/p>\n Scottish Labour said they would back a ban on “double jobbing”.<\/p>\n The party’s business manager, Martin Whitfield, said: \u201cBeing an MP or an MSP is a full-time job and it is the height of arrogance to try and do both.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether it\u2019s Douglas Ross or Stephen Flynn, Tory and SNP politicians have been taking their constituents for granted for too long.”<\/p>\n Green MSP Gillian Mackay also backed Simpson’s proposal.<\/p>\n \u201cThis has gone on for too long. Other devolved parliaments have rules in place to stop it, and Holyrood should too,” she said. <\/p>\n Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton told the Herald<\/a> he was not opposed to dual mandates in his party if the individual politician can “make them work”. <\/p>\n It is understood the LibDems want to look at Simpson\u2019s amendment in detail before making a decision on how to vote.<\/p>\n The amendment would be voted on as part of the stage three consideration of the elections bill.<\/p>\n Dozens of MSPs have had a dual mandate, either as a member of the House of Lords, the House of Commons or as a councillor – including 20 this term<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
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Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n‘Height of arrogance’ <\/h2>\n<\/p>\n