Dual role must end, says MSP

THE Scottish Lord Advocate's dual role needs to end, says a Galloway MSP. Finlay Carson insists there's a 'damaging conflict of interest' of Scotland's independent lead prosecutor also being a member of the SNP cabinet.

And he believes action must now be taken to end this worrying issue and prevent further damage to Scotland's legal system.

Mr Carson is supporting local MP John Cooper's Ten-Minute Rule Bill - that will be presented at Westminster on Wednesday - that finally aims to end this anomaly.

The Galloway and West Dumfries MSP said ahead of the move: "Recent revelations about the Lord Advocate privately passing the First Minister politically advantageous information about Nicola Sturgeon's husband have brought the dual role scandal into even sharper focus."

Meanwhile, John Cooper, Scottish Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway, explained the reasons behind his planned bill. He said: "The scandal of John Swinney getting a secret tip off about the Peter Murrell case highlights the damaging conflict of interest caused by the Lord Advocate's twin roles.

"It's wrong that the same person is both Scotland's top prosecutor and a member of the Scottish Government. The two roles are clearly incompatible and immensely harmful to the reputation of Scots Law."

The MP argued that the SNP Government pledged to address this anomaly in its 2021 manifesto - but they have done nothing since."