LONDON: A Holyrood committee comprising members of Scotland’s parliament has recommended the Scottish govt reconsider its controversial policy of allowing foreign nationals with “limited leave to remain” to stand in Scottish parliament and local govt elections.
It was the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 which extended candidacy rights to all foreign citizens with limited leave to remain in the UK.
The Scottish parliament’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, in a report, has now stated that it does not “accept the premise that there should be a general right for non-UK citizens with limited leave to remain to be councillors or MSPs”. It said that in the aftermath of the 2026 Scottish parliament elections, “some of the public were surprised to discover that these rules existed”. However, asked whether he would review the legislation, Scotland first minister John Swinney said: “We don’t intend to do so, no. A spokesman for the Scottish Greens said: “There are thousands of people with limited leave to remain who live and work in Scotland. The committee said the act appeared to “have run ahead of public opinion”, noting that a public consultation found that 77% of respondents disagreed with extending candidacy rights to foreigners with limited leave to remain (people on time-limited visas such as student visas).
They should be able to stand for our parliament and councils.