Exclusive:John Swinney drawing up plans to require MSPs and councillors to undergo PVG checks
Politicians could become subject to PVG checks before being allowed to take up public office, under plans being considered by John Swinney.
John Swinney has confirmed the SNP government is drawing up plans that could require MSPs and councillors to be included in Scotland’s child protection PVG scheme.
The move comes after calls to include politicians in the scheme, with those who do not meet standards potentially being barred from public office.
The appeal comes after former SNP council leader Jordan Linden was jailed after being convicted of 10 separate offences, including five sexual assaults.
Linden committed the offences between 2011 and 2021, with some occurring during his tenure as Scottish Youth Parliament chair in 2015 and 2016. The former leader of North Lanarkshire Council, who left the SNP in 2024, was ordered to serve 18 months behind bars.
Currently MSPs and councillors are not subject to the same child protection and vulnerable adult checks as teachers and social workers.
In Scotland, Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) checks are a legal requirement for anyone with a regulated role, including teachers, social workers and sports coaches.
Failing these checks could mean being barred from regulated roles with children, regulated roles with adults or from both types of regulated roles.
However, an MSP is not a regulated role, meaning members do not presently have to complete PVG checks.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for MSPs to be subject to the checks.
In a letter to the party, seen by Scotland on Sunday, the First Minister has now confirmed that checks against politicians is being considered as part of the Scottish government’s proposed electoral reforms.
Mr Swinney said: "The government is preparing information to be provided to the Parliament for consideration on the disclosure system, the PVG scheme and options available in relation to elected representatives."
The First Minister stressed that “openness, transparency, accountability and citizen participation are vital for a healthy and fair democracy in Scotland”.
He added that Scotland’s open government action plan is “currently being finalised following engagement and co-creation with the public and civil society” and “will include work on anti-corruption and accountability”.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Alex Cole-Hamilton, said: "MSPs regularly work with children and vulnerable adults in the course of their duties but are subject to none of the checks that a teacher or social worker would be.
“Self-policing, which is what Scottish political parties have so far relied upon, simply doesn’t cut it.
“We need to have measures in place that will directly prevent those working in politics from using their status to manipulate, target and exploit vulnerable people.”
He added: “I'm glad that at last the Scottish Government are listening to Scottish Liberal Democrat proposals and I would urge the First Minister to ensure that they are swiftly passed into law.
"My party is here to get things done and making our politics a safer and better place with fewer scandals is a part of that effort."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish government is continuing preparations for a consultation on electoral reform to be published in the autumn of this year that will inform any legislation introduced.”
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