Calls for more powers to hold Holyrood to account

He was joined by other voices calling for it to be made more difficult for an overall majority administration to "railroad" through legislation.

The calls follow the passage through the Parliament of the controversial anti-sectarianism legislation this week, which was opposed by all parties except the SNP administration.

Former Presiding Officer George Reid yesterday led calls for reform of the Holyrood post-legislative system.

He was joined by other voices calling for it to be made more difficult for an overall majority administration to "railroad" through legislation.

The calls follow the passage through the Parliament of the controversial anti-sectarianism legislation this week, which was opposed by all parties except the SNP administration.

Mr Reid, the former Nationalist MSP who became Holyrood Presiding Officer, said a "trigger mechanism" had to be found to ensure poor legislation could be corrected. "I have consistently argued there is a place for post-legislative scrutiny for those Acts where there is still public concern," he told The Herald.

"I ask the question, do we want another unelected body? No. Do we want more elections? No. Do we want better scrutiny of current legislation? Yes, but people have to think it through."

He added that a trigger mechanism, such as a new system of letters to the Presiding Officer or better use of the existing Petitions Committee system, is needed to force MSPs to reconsider controversial legislation.

"Two or three years down the road we should be able to re-visit these to dot the 'I's and cross the 'T's," he said.

Senior Labour backbencher Hugh Henry also believes there is a case for reform of Holyrood's single chamber – or unicameral – system. "I have had concern about the unicameral system for some time, believing there is a need to consider a revising chamber where we look at potentially bad or controversial legislation," he said.

"The problems have always been there but they are highlighted now we have one party with an overall majority.

"What do we do when a Government ruthlessly drives through its plans, when dissent and difference of opinion are not resolved, and when there is no consensus?"

Mr Henry believes the problem has been compounded by the new intake of MSPs in May, with less experienced incomers less likely to be resistant to party whips.

He also said the issue had to be argued on the basis of acceptance of the key principle of the sovereignty of the Scottish people, so this should involve either better post-legislative scrutiny by committees or an independent external group.

"Any Parliament worth its salt would have to give consideration to that," he added.

The Scottish Government dismissed the calls last night, with Business and Government Strategy Minister Bruce Crawford insisting: "The Consultative Steering Group considered all these matters in the late 1990s, and on a cross-party basis decided the priority was having a strong committee system, which has served Scotland's Parliament extremely well – during the eight years of the majority Lab/Lib coalition, the four-year minority SNP administration, and now during the majority SNP Government.

"In tough financial times, there would be limited public support for having another tier of politicians. Sixty-three per cent of the world's

parliaments are unicameral –

including in Norway, Sweden and Denmark."

The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill was voted through the Parliament on Wednesday, despite last-ditch appeals for the legislation to be scrapped. The SNP used its majority to pass the Bill, which will create two offences, targeting sectarian behaviour in and around football matches and on the internet.

Much of the response to the consultation exercise had been hostile to the Bill and opposition parties had branded it unworkable. Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Independent MSP Margo MacDonald issued a joint statement after the vote expressing "real regret" the legislation had been "railroaded" through by the SNP.

Ministers have promised to review the use of the new powers, which include penalties of up to five years in prison for anyone convicted of an offence under the legislation.