By Steve Bargeton, political editor

MSPs LAST night overwhelmingly voted for Holyrood to be given administrative powers to run their own elections in the wake of the polls fiasco in May.

They also backed a Tory amendment to hold the Scottish Parliament and local authority elections at different times.

The moves were backed by the SNP, Labour and the Scottish Tories.

In the Holyrood elections last May 146,099 parliamentary ballot papers were rejected.

A subsequent report into the shambles by Canadian election expert Ron Gould concluded, “Our review of the present legislation, as it affects both the Scottish parliamentary and the local government elections, has led us to conclude that it is so fragmented and antiquated that it fundamentally interferes with the ability of electoral stakeholders to make timely decisions and to carry out all activities related to planning, organising and implementing an election effectively.”

In a debate on the issue yesterday the SNP called on the UK Government to give the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government full control over Scottish elections. Labour argued to open a dialogue to secure administrative control.

Accepting this argument parliamentary business minister Bruce Crawford said, “This is a very welcome and significant step forward for the Parliament and Scottish democracy.

“We now have an overwhelming parliamentary vote and broad consensus in Scotland in support of the principle of the first recommendation of the Gould report that Holyrood should be responsible for running Scottish Parliament elections.

“Labour in Scotland have taken a positive step forward, and joined with other parties in the parliament on this key issue.

“On the Gould Report, Scottish Labour are now singing from a very different hymn sheet compared to Labour in London.”

Tory leader Annabel Goldie said, “I am delighted that the Parliament has now recognised the wisdom of the Scottish Conservative position and agreed that Holyrood and local government elections should be decoupled.”

A Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesman said, “A poll 31/2 years before the next elections is of little relevance.”