A Fife politician has demanded that by-elections be held when local councillors are elected to the Scottish Parliament.
Bill Brown, SNP representative for Glenrothes West and Kinglassie, says councillors who are elected to Holyrood should resign from their role in the interests of democracy.
His call comes just over a week after the leader of the administration, Councillor Alex Rowley, won the Scottish Parliamentary by-election for the Cowdenbeath constituency.
Although Mr Rowley has confirmed he will stand down as a councillor for The Lochs ward in the west of the region, two councillors in Fife both Labour Party representatives also double up as MSPs in Edinburgh.
Mr Brown said allowing councillors to sit at Holyrood is not in the best interests of the public. “An MSP is expected to be totally committed to their parliamentary duties, working full time, normally far more than just 40 hours per week. How can they possibly do both jobs effectively?
“Why are we stopping other prospective politicians from coming forward to fill what should be vacant seats on the council?
Jayne Baxter acts as both MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife and a councillor for Cowdenbeath. In October she was joined at the Scottish Parliament by Cara Hilton, who continues to serve as a Fife councillor for Dunfermline South.
However, following his election as an MSP last month, Mr Rowley confirmed he would be standing down as a councillor in May and has also forfeited his salary from the local authority.
However, Mr Brown says Fife Council should force by-elections, stating his belief this would allow local politicians to fully concentrate on their duties.
He continued: “The people of Fife deserve proper representation from their elected representatives.
“I would like to call on the Fife Council administration to force by-elections unless it is within 12 months of the general election to ensure that locally-elected politicians can fulfil their obligations and can concentrate on their area of responsibility.
“There are separate elections for the Scottish Parliament and the council and voters deserve to have an individual representing them for each of the two areas.”
However, Jayne Baxter has criticised Mr Brown’s stance and said performing both roles is no different to councillors workingin other professions. “What is the point the SNP are trying to make here?” she said. “Are they trying to say councillors shouldn’t have another job?
“There are many councillors in Fife who have a full-time job and are very able ward councillors at the same time.”
Fellow MSP Cara Hilton said : “It was a great honour to be elected in October to serve as MSP for Dunfermline and I will continue to dedicate myself to representing my constituents.
“I continue to hold regular councillor surgeries in my ward. I am not taking a councillor salary nor claiming travel expenses.”
Linda Bissett, senior manager at Fife Council’s democratic services department, said: “There is nothing in legislation or council policies to prevent councillors holding office as a councillor and an MSP.
“Fife Council have no power to call a by-election unless there is a vacancy.”