HOLYROOD AWAKENING

Parly has gone backwards as 'partisan' MSPs fail to scrutinise laws properly, claims top academic

- BY CHRIS MCCALL

THE Scottish Parliament has gone “backwards’ as “hyper-partisan” MSPs spend too much time sucking up to party leaders, a top expert on devolution has warned.

Professor James Mitchell told the Record the public will losing faith in Holyrood unless more parliamentarians prove they are willing to stand up for themselves.

The Edinburgh University academic blasted SNP back-benchers in particular for defending John Swinney's government “far beyond what we should expect”.

The Scottish Parliament recently celebrated its 25th anniversary but there is growing discontent across all parties that it is not functioning as well as it should.

Prof Mitchell said: “It's fair to say the Scottish Parliament has lost its way.