Presiding Officer names Parliament reform commission members

2nd November 2016 | government-administration

Holyrood's Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh has named the members of the independent commission that will consider reform of the Scottish Parliament.

Announced last week with retiring Electoral Commissioner for Scotland John McCormick as chair (click here for report), the commission will review the operation of the Parliament in holding the Scottish Government to account and its engagement with the Scottish public.

Other members of the commission are:

  • Katie Burke MSYP, member of the Scottish Youth Parliament For North East Fife, and former chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament;
  • Pam Duncan-Glancy, disability, equality and human rights activist;
  • Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (2013-14), and a former Church of Scotland minister; 
  • Geoff Mawdsley, director of Reform Scotland;
  • Professor Boyd Robertson, Principal of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, UHI, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture.

Nominated to represent the political parties are:

  • Scottish National Party: Fiona McLeod, former MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (2011-2016);
  • Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood;
  • Scottish Labour: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow;
  • Scottish Green Party: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands; 
  • Scottish Liberal Democrats: Jeremy Purvis, former MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (2003-2011).

Welcoming the group, Mr Macintosh commented: “This is a great mix of individuals, each with a different skillset and background, but collectively, I am confident they will have the wisdom and experience to take the Parliament back to its roots in being open, transparent, and truly participative.”

The commission is due to report to him by June 2017.