Graham Simpson MSP introduced this Member’s Bill. It will introduce new processes for removing MSPs from office.
Prior to the conclusion of Stage 3 amendment proceedings on 24 February 2026, the Bill was referred to as the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill.
This is a Member's bill
The Bill was introduced on 17 December 2024 and is at Stage 3
This Bill is at Stage 3 of the process to decide if it should become an Act.
The Bill as introduced sets out that an MSP could be recalled:
When an MSP is recalled, people in the constituency or region that the MSP represents will be able to sign a petition calling for the MSP to lose their seat. If the petition is successful, the MSP will lose their seat.
The Bill also establishes that an MSP could be removed if:
Graham Simpson MSP believes that the current circumstances where an MSP can be removed from office are too limited.
Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill as introduced (1MB, pdf) posted 17 December 2024
Explanatory Notes (169KB, pdf) posted 17 December 2024
Policy Memorandum (421KB, pdf) posted 17 December 2024
Financial Memorandum (323KB, pdf) posted 17 December 2024
Delegated Powers Memorandum (234KB, pdf) posted 17 December 2024
Statements on legislative competence (109KB, pdf) posted 17 December 2024
Explanatory Notes (260KB, pdf) posted 17 December 2024
Policy Memorandum (488KB, pdf) posted 17 December 2024
Financial Memorandum (377KB, pdf) posted 17 December 2024
Delegated Powers Memorandum (275KB, pdf) posted 17 December 2024
Statements on legislative competence (160KB, pdf) posted 17 December 2024
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
Maurice Golden MSP is the additional member in charge for the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill.
The Member who introduces the Bill is also, in the first instance, the ‘Member in charge’ of it. They may choose to name an ‘additional Member in charge’. This gives the Member in charge an assurance that any necessary procedural steps can still be taken if they are unavailable for a period or on a particular occasion.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
Research briefing on the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill
The Bill was introduced on 17 December 2024
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
On 14 May 2025, Parliament agreed motion S6M-17532, that consideration of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 7 November 2025.
On 30 October 2025, Parliament agreed motion S6M-19442, that consideration of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill at Stage 1 be extended to 14 November 2025.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee ran a call for views to help its examination of the Bill.
The Bill proposes measures for the recall and removal of Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) from that office.
The call for views closed on 4 April 2025.
Letter from the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans 12 November 2025
Letter from Graham Simpson MSP, Member in Charge dated 5 November 2025
Letter from Engender dated 18 June 2025
Letter from the Minister for Parliamentary Business dated 16 June 2025
Letter from Malcolm Burr, Convener of the Electoral Management Board
See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence for this committee
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee published its Stage 1 Report on 5 November 2025.
Stage 1 Report on the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 10 June 2025.
A Stage 1 debate took place on 13 November 2025 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
Read the minutes of proceedings (195KB, pdf) posted 13 November 2025
Result 81 for, 0 against, 35 abstained, 13 did not vote Agreed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 13 November 2025
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
At Introduction, the Presiding Officer decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.
Parliament agreed a Financial Resolution at its meeting on 8 January 2026.
Read the minutes of proceedings (179KB, pdf) posted 08 January 2026
See further details of the motion
Documents with the amendments considered and debated at the meeting held on 29 January 2026.
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (530KB, pdf) posted 26 January 2026
Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (599KB, pdf) posted 26 January 2026
Read the agenda, papers and minutes for this meeting
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
Letter from Graham Simpson MSP dated 18 February 2026
Letter from Graham Simpson MSP dated 9 February 2026
Letter from Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans dated 5 February 2026
Electoral Commission briefing on Scottish Parliament Recall and Removal of Members Bill at Stage 2
Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill as amended at Stage 2 (1MB, pdf) posted 29 January 2026
Revised Explanatory Notes (190KB, pdf) posted 18 February 2026
Supplementary Financial Memorandum (240KB, pdf) posted 16 February 2026
Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (180KB, pdf) posted 16 February 2026
Revised Explanatory Notes (309KB, pdf) posted 18 February 2026
Supplementary Financial Memorandum (211KB, pdf) posted 12 February 2026
Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (259KB, pdf) posted 12 February 2026
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 29 January 2026
At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them. There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law.
Documents with the amendments to be considered and debated at the meeting to be held on 24 February 2026.
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3 (650KB, pdf) posted 18 February 2026
Timed Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3 (703KB, pdf) posted 23 February 2026
A Stage 3 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been proposed at Stage 3 and that have been selected by the Presiding Officer. They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the Presiding Officer and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
‘Timed Groupings’ are usually produced at Stage 3 and set out how long Parliament expects to spend debating the groups of amendments.
Scottish Parliament (Recall of Members) Bill as amended at Stage 3 (2MB, pdf) posted 24 February 2026
Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
After debate, the motion to pass the Bill was not agreed. The Bill therefore fell.
See further details of the motion
See further details of the motion