OPPOSITION parties have urged ministers to give away their power to pick the next head of the body overseeing Police Scotland.

After a series of financial and management crises at the single force and its watchdog, the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), the parties said MSPs should have the final say instead.

The calls comes as the Scottish Government begins the hunt for the SPA’s third chair since 2013, following the resignation of controversial figurehead Andrew Flanagan.

It followed stinging criticism by MSPs of his secretive and abrasive management style.

Mr Flanagan’s predecessor, Vic Emery, resigned as SPA chair in 2015 after a turf war with the then chief constable Sir Stephen House.

Last week, the SPA also announced its chief executive, John Foley, was to take early retirement after his post was made redundant.

He had been under pressure to resign after an inspection found “shortcomings” in his ability to provide expert advice and support to the SPA board.

Now Labour’s Claire Baker, Tory Liam Kerr, Green John Finnie and LibDem Liam McArthur have signed a joint letter to SNP Justice Secretary Michael Matheson calling for the selection of the next SPA chair to be delegated to parliament.

In it, they say the SPA has been “under significant pressure and faced serious criticism” in recent months, including concerns raised by two Parliamentary committees.

Stressing the need for a force the public can have confidence in, they say there is a desire to “move on” from past difficulties with a new approach.

They go on: “It is vital that the right choice is made with this appointment.

“We believe there is a need for greater transparency and public accountability of the SPA.

“We believe that the Parliament can play an important role which would benefit the SPA.”

Although the 2012 Act which merged Scotland’s eight forces into Police Scotland, gives ministers the job of appointing the SPA chair, they said this should be handed to Holyrood.

“We propose that this decision be delegated to the Scottish Parliament.

“In the same way that the Parliament decides on the appointment of, for example, the Information Commissioner, a committee of MSPs would undertake the appointment process and make a recommendation to Parliament.

“We believe that the process can be accommodated within the current legislation.

“It is important that the next Chair of the SPA has the support of the Scottish Parliament and we would urge you to consider this proposal to improve the appointment process.”

The parallel with the Scottish Information Commissioner is not exact, as that role is funded directly out of parliament’s budget to ensure independence.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said interviews for the SPA chair were scheduled to take place in late October, with Mr Flanagan staying on his successor was appointed.

“It is a requirement of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act, which received cross party support, that Scottish Ministers appoint the Chair of the SPA and moving to a system where the Chair is appointed by Parliament instead would require a change to legislation.”