Falkirk SNP MSP to continue as councillor for next year
Falkirk West’s new MSP Gary Bouse has confirmed that he will continue to serve as a councillor in addition to his Holyrood role and says there will be “no change” for constituents who get in touch.
Councillor Bouse – who represents the Carse, Kinnaird & Tryst ward for the SNP – is one of several new MSPs who will serve until next year’s council elections in May.
New rules introduced last year mean that anyone elected to the Scottish Parliament cannot continue in a dual role – such as MP, MSP or councillor – unless an election is less than a year away.
Members who choose to continue for the time being say that it will save the council the cost of a by-election – around £75,000 – which is not necessary for such a short period of time.
The rule changes also mean that Mr Bouse will only receive one wage and will not be paid for his work as a councillor in addition to the Holyrood salary.
As a senior member of the SNP administration, Councillor Bouse was a member of several high profile committees and at yesterday’s meeting of Falkirk Council, members heard that he was stepping back from these roles.
Speaking after the meeting, he said: “My work as a councillor will continue in that I will carry out surgeries as I have always done.
“I have stepped down as the housing portfolio holder and chair of the appeals committee as well as moving from planning and executive committees to scrutiny committee while maintaining my membership of the full council.
“My council and parliamentary groups are both very understanding and accommodating.
“For constituents, the work continues whether they contact me as MSP or as their councillor for Carse, Kinnaird, and Tryst ward; constituents will see no change to the way I attend to their enquiries.
“I have been working for nine years as a councillor and in a private business which has always been hard work.
“I am used to long days and work at the weekends so, while there is no change to my work ethic and attitude, the challenge is in shifting to accommodate the change in intensity, but it is a challenge I am more than prepared for.
“The first few weeks as an MSP has been an exciting challenge getting to grips with the Parliament’s extensive onboarding process, which involves significant amounts of information gathering as well as learning regulation, and tasks involving employing staff and securing a new office.
“I hope to be able to announce my office is open in the coming weeks.”
Attending the last meeting of the council before summer recess in person, Mr Bouse was warmly congratulated on his election success by members across the chamber.