WIFE-BEATER Bill Walker is shamelessly carrying on as normal as an MSP - after signing a parliamentary motion in honour of a football star.

The Dunfermline MSP added his name to a formal tribute to Fred Martin, the former Aberdeen and Scotland goalkeeper, who died recently.

The motion was submitted yesterday by SNP MSP Graeme Day and Walker, 71, was first to sign it.

The move, a day after his conviction for a series of assaults against three ex-wives, was taken as a sign the former SNP and now Independent MSP has no intention of quitting his seat.

It came as furious fellow MSPs stepped up their calls for him to go.

Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, submitted a motion saying: "That the Parliament believes that Bill Walker MSP should vacate his seat in the Parliament immediately."

Parliamentary motions are means for MSPs to highlight issues of concern. They are not binding but Mr Rennie's call is expected to receive backing from across the political spectrum.

He said: "We need to make sure people understand that a person who has been convicted of domestic abuse has no place in Scottish politics.

"Bill needs to go and go now to protect the reputation of our Parliament and send a strong message that domestic violence is simply not acceptable."

Walker was convicted of 23 charges of assault against three ex-wives and a teenage step-daughter over a period spanning nearly 30 years.

He will be sentenced next month when the maximum jail term he could face is one year - insufficient to disqualify him from serving as an MSP.

Domestic abuse campaigners and MSPs on all sides of the political spectrum have called on him to quit.

Yesterday, the LibDems said they would support a "recall" law if proposals within Holyrood's powers could be drawn up.

Most electoral law is reserved to Westminster. However, parliamentary authorities believe Holyrood may have powers to pass laws forcing a by-election in some circumstances.