Make all MSPs take kid safety checks before entering Holyrood

Senior politicians want tighter rules for time alone with u-18s

- BY PAUL HUTCHEON

SENIOR Holyrood politicians have said MSPs should undergo disclosure checks before they can be alone with kids.

Former SNP Minister Ash Regan issued the demand after MSP Colin Smyth was charged with the possession of indecent images of children.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton also said MSPs should not get an “opt-out” from “basic safeguards”.

MSPs do not have to go through Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) checks, which apply to anyone who has unsupervised contact with under-18s in either a voluntary or paid role.

Regan, who quit the SNP for Alba after clashing with Nicola Sturgeon's former government over gender legislation, said: “We should think about extending that to members of the Scottish Parliament.”

Regan said MSPs can have children and young people as interns and the parliament also caters for school trips.

She said a PVG check should be a requirement for getting a Holyrood pass and accessing the building.