Swinney ‘disgusted’ at Tories after questions on MSP’s right to remain
The Scottish Conservatives have lodged a member’s Bill to stop allowing those with temporary visas to stand as MSPs.
The First Minister has said he is “disgusted” at the Scottish Conservative Party amid questions on an MSP’s right to remain in the UK.
During First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood on Thursday, Mr Swinney was asked by Tory leader Russell Findlay if he agrees that migrants who do not have the right to stay in the UK should not be members of the Scottish Parliament.
The question came as the Tories lodged a member’s Bill which aims to reverse rules allowing foreign nationals with temporary visas to stand as candidates in Holyrood and local council elections.
Mr Findlay confirmed he is pushing for the change following the election of Scottish Green MSP Q Manivannan, who is originally from India, on the Edinburgh and Lothians East regional list in May. At the time, the Green politician was on a student visa.
The MSP confirmed last month they had been granted a three-year graduate visa, however they are yet to secure leave to remain for the duration of the Holyrood term, due to end in 2031.
Mr Swinney responded: “The only cosy consensus that I think is becoming on a daily basis more obvious that Russell Findlay is part of is a cosy consensus between the Tories and Reform, and it absolutely disgusts me that that’s where the Conservative Party has reached.”
The rules for foreign nationals are being re-examined by MSPs on Thursday after ministers tabled the Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Commonwealth Citizens) Bill.
It will aim to correct an error in earlier legislation that accidentally excluded Commonwealth citizens from extended election candidacy rights.
Mr Swinney continued: “What I would say to Mr Findlay in relation to his question is that I am perfectly satisfied with the approach to the rules that apply to the eligibility for individuals to stand for election, and the Government is trying to correct an anomaly this afternoon.”
Reform Scotland leader Malcolm Offord raised a similar question at FMQs as the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee said the “rationale” for allowing people with limited leave to remain to stand for election to councils and Holyrood is “simply not clear”.
Lord Offord said: “The First Minister will be aware that the Standards Committee have urged the Scottish Government to reconsider allowing foreign nationals with limited right to remain to stand for election, and this is reflecting that 77% of the public who responded to the consultation are opposed to extending candidacy rights to foreign nationals.
“Presiding Officer, the First Minister might choose to ignore a parliamentary committee, but does he intend to ignore the strong opposition of the people?”
Mr Swinney said the comments were an attempt to “spread division”.
He said: “What we are doing is we are correcting an anomaly in a piece of legislation approved by Parliament. I am not ignoring anybody. I am respecting the views and the decisions of Parliament.
“But let’s be candid about what this is about. This is another attempt, a weekly attempt by Malcolm Offord to spread division within this chamber, division within this country to put citizen against citizen, and my Government will have nothing to do with it.”