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Scottish Conservative Press Office
Thursday 4th September 2008
Jamie McGrigor speech
Speaking in this morning’s Standards, Procedures & Public Appointments Committee motion on Breach of the Code of Conduct for MSPs, Jamie McGrigor, Scottish Conservative MSP for Highlands & Islands and a member of the committee, said:
"It is surely the duty of this Parliament to judge its members by the rules of this Parliament, not by the rules of any other body and with all due respect to members of the Standards, Procedures & Public Appointments Committee, I felt that the Committee’s decision in this case was wrong and that a Member of this Parliament has suffered an injustice and therefore an unfair slur on her Parliamentary record. That is very unfortunate, not only for the Member concerned Miss Wendy Alexander but also for every Member of this Parliament.
"The Standards Committee has surely to demonstrate a stature arguably higher than any other Committee because of what it does or may be called on to do, ie. to sit in judgement of the conduct of other Members. It must be self evident from its conduct that it has discharged the highest levels of fairness, natural justice and professional objectivity. It must be seen to be free from partisan whipping and Members must make up their own minds according to the evidence...
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