A failing parliament and a flourishing lobbying class: Scotland’s election reality |
As dozens of MSPs prepare to exit Holyrood, scrutiny grows over lobbying links, stalled legislation and a political culture sinking deeper into mediocrity, says Kevin McKenna.
Revelations of malfeasance and criminal behaviour have characterised the start of the Scottish election campaign.
Observing the onward destinations of our MSPs after they finally leave Holyrood could yield some interesting trends. As the election campaign gets underway, 42 of them have signalled their intent to step away from politics. They’ll be joined by a host of reluctant others in May.
It’ll be intriguing to see how many will be handed consultancy roles with the lobbying firms who gather around Holyrood to scavenge on the treats it can offer its per-diem clients? How many others will land jobs in those sectors that once lobbied them when they were members of committees?
Some of them, of course, will be appointed to health and education boards which will provide opportunities to broaden their portfolios further. The trick is to spot how many of their new employers once benefited from their presence on key committees or their votes on new legislation.
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