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Scottish MSPs revisit election rules for candidates with limited leave to remain
Scottish MSPs are reconsidering a law that lets people with limited leave to remain in the UK stand for election to Holyrood and local councils. The debate has resurfaced after Indian-born Green representative Q Manivannan was elected in May, prompting questions about the rules and public confidence in how they were made.
The 2024 legislation followed a 2021 SNP-Green pledge to widen candidacy rights and passed without opposition. The article says 77 per cent of respondents to the Scottish Government’s consultation opposed the change, while the Law Society warned that temporary leave could expire before a five-year parliamentary term, potentially forcing members to stand down and triggering taxpayer-funded by-elections. It argues that citizenship should carry greater weight in eligibility for elected office.
In short
- MSPs are reviewing candidacy rules for people with limited leave to remain.
- The law passed in 2024 without a vote against.
- The article argues citizenship should be required for elected office.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Allowing people with limited leave to remain to stand for election recognises that they can be part of Scottish communities and contribute to decisions affecting their lives. Supporters can argue that voters should decide who represents them, and that widening eligibility supports political inclusion without guaranteeing any candidate a seat.
The case against
Eligibility for elected office can reasonably be tied to a durable legal status, given the responsibilities and continuity required of representatives. Critics point to the possibility that leave could expire during a five-year term, raising the prospect of a member leaving office and a publicly funded by-election; they also argue that the reported consultation opposition merits careful attention.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “STEPHEN DAISLEY: We need to restore the status of citizenship. For those who weren’t born here it must be a privilege that’s earned”.