Plans to strip any jailed MSP 90% of their salary while they are behind bars have been ratified at Holyrood despite concerns the measures were rushed through.
Justice committee convener Christine Grahame urged her colleagues to consider the matter further in light of the resignation of convicted wife-beater Bill Walker, whose criminal conviction sparked calls for a review.
SNP member Ms Grahame warned against drafting proposals “on the hoof” and potentially censuring MSPs who are detained on remand and then found innocent.
The bill passed comfortably with 105 MSPs in favour, although seven voted against it and four abstained despite all parties whipping their politicians to vote for the emergency measure.
Former Dunfermline representative Walker was convicted of 23 domestic abuse offences against his ex-wives and a stepdaughter in a summary trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
The maximum sentence he can receive at his next appearance on September 20 is a year in jail, which gave him the option of retaining his office.
The 71-year-old from Alloa initially rejected calls to quit, telling The Courier he had never had any intention to resign, and only relented on Saturday after the proposals to dock imprisoned MSPs’ pay were presented by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB).
Moving the motion, the SNP’s Linda Fabiani, backed by Conservative Mary Scanlon, said the principle applied to any member and the legislation should not be halted because Walker had finally stood down.
No MSP mentioned Walker by name during the short exchange in the chamber.
Ms Grahame and Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens both opposed the motion.
Ms Grahame raised particular issue with MSPs being docked pay when they are on remand, which she said could backfire if the member is found innocent and was therefore imprisoned through no fault of their own.
She said: “This is just wrong. I’m breaking the whip.”
Fellow Nationalists Sandra White and Stewart Maxwell, who also raised questions during the debate, joined Ms Grahame in defying the SNP whip to vote against the change.
Former SNP MSPs John Finnie and Jean Urquhart, who resigned from the party last year because of the party’s U-turn on support for military alliance Nato, also voted against the motion alongside Mr Harvie and fellow Green Alison Johnstone.
SNP MSPs Adam Ingram, Joan McAlpine and John Wilson abstained, as did Labour MSP Hugh Henry.
Despite issuing a statement before the debate urging caution over any “hasty legislation”, Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie voted for the motion.