Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Bill: Stage 3

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 20 February 2020.

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Photo of Alex Cole-Hamilton Alex Cole-Hamilton Liberal Democrat

I understand Gil Paterson’s point. Sexual offences carry with them a range of sentencing and after-care support. However, at no point in sentencing for any crime—sexual or otherwise—is reference made to the franchise. It is an entirely arbitrary proposition. One could be sentenced to three years in prison for a crime and miss no elections, and could then be sentenced to three years again, for the same crime, but miss nine elections—as could have happened between 2014 and 2017. Having the franchise is not linked to sentencing, so why should it be linked to the offence?