Modern Studies Representation

• MSP


  Member of the Scottish Parliament
• Types of MSP


  • Constituency MSPs
  • Regional MSPs
• Role of the MSP


  1. Split working week between Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and constituency

  2. Spend Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Edinburgh

  3. Rest of time in local area
• Work of an MSP in the constituency

  • Surgeries
  • Attending Meetings
  • Local Media
  • Visits and Social Events
  • Local Party Meetings
  • Constituents Letters, Emails & Social Media
• Work of an MSP in the Scottish Parliament

  1. Take part in debates

  2. Ask questions of government ministers

  3. Join a committee

  4. Propose a members' bill

  5. Vote during decision time
• When discussing representation, we are looking at how much something (like media, work, education, or politics) looks like society as a whole
• If a country is to be a democracy, then the parliament should be a fair reflection of society i.e., be composed of the same groups/people that make up society
• Historically there has been low representation of women in politics
• 45% of MSPs are female – the highest ever and an increase from 35%
• Women make up 51% of the Scottish population so they are still underrepresented
• Nicola Sturgeon is the 1st Female First Minister (the previous 5 were all men)
• All of the main parties, except the Lib Dems, has had a female leader (or co-leader)
• In the 2021 election the SNP used all-women lists in 9 different areas, Labour alternated men and women on their regional list positions
• Reasons why women are underrepresented in the Scottish Parliament

  • May have caring responsibilities
  • Statistically women are less likely than men to stand as candidates
  • The culture of politics/parliament
  • Sexist attitudes
  • Lack of Role Models
  • Self-Esteem/Confidence issues
  • Working Conditions
• In 2021 6 MSPs (4.5%) have an ethnic minority background – there had only been 4 ethnic minority MSPs elected between 1999-2021, all were men
• Statistically, for fair representation, there should be a minimum of 5 MSPs from an ethnic minority background – the Scottish Parliament achieve this for the first time in 2021, for the previous 20 years ethnic minorities were underrepresented
• The SNP's Kaukab Stewart of the SNP and Conservative Pam Gosal also became the first women of colour to be elected
• Reasons why Ethnic minorities WERE underrepresented in the Scottish Parliament

  • Racism
  • Lack of Role Models
  • Incumbency
  • Language Issues
• In 2021, 7% of MSPs are openly LGB, it is estimated that around 5-7% of the population of Scotland is LGB
• There are no openly transgender MSPs, however it is estimated that around 1% of the population of Scotland is transgender
• It is estimated that between 20-25% of the population of Scotland is disabled. This means there should be at least 23 MSPs who register as disabled
• There are several MSPs with disabilities, including Labour's Pam Duncan-Glancy, who is the first permanent wheelchair user, and Emma Roddick, who has borderline personality disorder and PTSD. However, this is far short of the 23 there should be
• The Scottish Parliament only has one chamber, unlike the UK Parliament which has the House of Commons AND the House of Lords
• When the Scottish Parliament was created, one aim was to improve the way committees were used and to make them more powerful than the committees in the UK Parliament
• Committees


  Groups of MSPs which regularly meet to discuss a range of issues relating to policy, scrutiny of the work and expenditure of the government, and proposals for legislation
• Holding the Government to Account

  1. Committees make sure that the government is doing its job properly

  2. Committees hear evidence from experts, members of the public, and then write reports making recommendations to the government

  3. Committees can request that the ministers from the department they supervise attend and answer questions
• Creating and Amending Laws

  1. A committee can submit bills relating to its department to parliament

  2. All bills submitted are analysed by the relevant committee

  3. The committee can make changes to the bill based on expert advice they have heard

  4. For a change to be made the committee must vote on it
• Public Petitions Committee


  Examines suggestions and ideas submitted to the parliament by the public and organisations