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Week-long ban too harsh says McKie-leak MSP

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Published Date: 21 September 2006
EDINBURGH MSP Mike Pringle, who is facing a week's suspension from Holyrood over leaked information, today claimed the penalty was too harsh for the offence.
The Scottish Parliament's standards committee ruled the Edinburgh South Liberal Democrat had breached the MSPs' code of conduct by showing a document relating to the Shirley McKie fingerprint case to a Sunday newspaper.

It recommended he should be barred from meetings of the Scottish Parliament for a week after he admitted the leak. The committee also said he should consider quitting the Justice 1 Committee.

Mr Pringle said he accepted the committee's decision but was shocked at the proposed sanction. "I think it is harsh," he said. "I said immediately it was me and I apologised to everyone."

He claimed the leak only took place because he had been given the impression the committee clerks had agreed he should release the information. He pointed out the committee had already agreed to publish the document and it came out ten days later.



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1

Stephen Harte,

21/09/2006 11:12:05

The problem with the McKie case was certainly NOT one of too much information being circulated and of all involved in this episode Mike Pringle will not go down in history as the person who should hang their head in shame.

2

Thomas D,

21/09/2006 11:28:05

Mike Pringle has let down himself, his Party and most importantly his constituents. He should apologise to the people of South edinburgh who will not be able to represent properly next week and also for failing to meet the standards that elected officials should maintain.

3

Paul,

21/09/2006 11:53:03

Mr. Pringle has been vociferous in his challenge of the integrity of the SCRO and it's officers, it's a shame he has compromised his own.

4

Eve,

Scotland 21/09/2006 13:51:48

#4. John: Everyone makes mistakes, do you really want these people to be claiming Job seekers allonce.

P.S. I don't think they should be able to walk away free without any sort of punshment disaplinary hearings.

5

Paul,

21/09/2006 14:13:24

Hi Eve (6)

Mr. Pringle has devoted his time on the Justice 1 SCRO enquiry committee to questioning people in quite unfriendly terms about their honesty, integrity and whether they were malicious in their identification of the disputed mark Y7.

If he has been shown to lack integrity or act maliciously in public office, then it clearly undermines his position.

He has undermined the workings of the committee. Given the strain this whole enquiry has put on the people involved, given the cost to the taxpayer, he requires to be reprimanded.

Mr. Pringle seems to regard it as an honest mistake. Shirley mcKie's father Iain seems to see Mr. Pringle as a crusading 'whistleblower'.

I think the agnda is pretty clear.

6

Phil o Brian,

21/09/2006 14:19:50

What I find disappointing is that the people will be given a vote on whether Mike Pringle has done a good job or not. But if that vote is negative, will he not get straight back in to Hollyrood anyway as a list MSP?
Am I correct? If so, whats the point in voting?
Any list MSP is going to be controlled by the party, or he won't be an MSP the next time around.
Would someone please explain how this came about.
Thanks

7

Paul,

21/09/2006 15:24:01

Hi Phil,

I'm guessing you don't get to vote at the Holyrood elections, basically there is a proportional representation system, voters get first and second choices, the parties have constituency MSP's and list MSP's, list MSP's are decided by the party's themselves, how many list MSP's each party gets is decided by the electorate.

You might vote for a named prospective MSP with your first vote, you may vote for a party with your second vote.

At present Mr. Pringle is a constiurncy MSP, if he doesn't stand in his Edinburgh South seat next time, or is voted out, he may still get become an MSP under the list system.

This is no comment on Mr. Pringle or his current predicament, or the majority of adroit and worthy list MSP's, but it is kind of a way for political parties to reward those within their ranks who may not be necessarily popular with the electorate.

8

Phil o Brian,

21/09/2006 18:11:04

Thanks Paul

Do have a vote, just confused.

But surely this undermines the democratic process (and continues the gravy train?). It must also be a block on the voters getting new talent into Hollyrood.
Time for change if we want to make progress

9

Paul,

22/09/2006 07:30:18

That's one way of looking at it, another is that smaller parties like the Greens or SSP get to play a role proportionate to their share of the vote, even though they may at best get only one or two named msp's.

So, you could argue that it is more democratic.

The complication will come when (not if) people like the Scottish BNP get seats. Another downside is that (so far) it is only through coalitions that majority govt's can be formed. Given that the Lib Dems look set to change allegence to the SNP, this trend looks set to continue.

10

CHIC,

ayr 23/09/2006 23:03:37

As you can see from the link below
Mr Pringle is to refusing to take responsibility for his actions.
By leaving the decision on his future to Pauline McNeil conviener of the Justice 1 committee. She is now in a position where she will have to decide wether to attempt to repair public confidence in Paliamentary committees by getting rid of Pringle or face the criticism of a biased Scottish media who will seemingly stop at nothing to defend McKie supporters.

If he is not kicked off Justice 1, how can Parliamentary Committees expect to be able to hold the Executive to account. When those who wish to provide evidence free from publicity cannot be sure that their identity will be protected.

As Paul has already mentioned above, Mr Pringle has not been impartial and he leaked these documents to a newspaper which is one of the most guilty of supporting the McKie's.

http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1397732006

If you are still unsure if Mr Pringle has shown any bias during the Inquiry I suggest you read the link below. He has been criticised by politicians on all sides of the parliament but he still has a very, very public supporter.

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/letters.cfm?id=1406812006

11

Eve,

Scotland 24/09/2006 17:14:52

#6. Paul: I didn't read this article proberly before resonding. My concentration was pure mince when I wrote #5, I was thinking the article was about somting eles (possible thinking about what my disertation topic should be).


 

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