Holyrood committee conveners should be elected, say former FMs

The committees of the Scottish Parliament should have a higher profile and be elected by backbenchers, according to former first ministers Jack McConnell and Henry McLeish.

Giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Commission on Parliamentary Reform today, the second and third First Ministers in the Scottish Parliament’s history called for “radical changes” to the structures of Holyrood.

The committees, designed to scrutinise legislation before and after it is passed, are becoming “more and more partisan” said McConnell, while debates in the chamber have become “too predictable, too partisan and too structured”.

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McLeish suggested conveners should be elected and the committees be given more powers, and McConnell agreed.

McConnell also criticised the regional list system, saying it had “allowed parties to exert more control over members” and gave list MSPs “jobs for life”.

Both men agree the parliament has a good reputation but additional powers for Scotland and the implications of Brexit presented challenges.

"Democracy, in my view, is at risk at the present time," said McLeish.

The commission, chaired by former electoral commissioner John McCormick, was set up by presiding officer to examine how the parliament’s processes could be improved. It will report in June.