Politicians must show a greater degree of respect in their discourse, the independent body which adjudicates on councillors’ behaviour has said.

The Standards Commission for Scotland is asking elected members to demonstrate their commitment to respectful debate by signing the “civility pledge” from the Jo Cox Foundation.

The statutory body says it is increasingly concerned by referrals about disrespectful behaviour by elected members to other councillors, officials and members of the public.

It has the power to censure, suspend or disqualify councillors if codes of conduct have been breached.

Recent cases have seen complaints upheld about councillors being rude to members of the public, bullying a junior council official and harassing a fellow councillor.

Ahead of next year’s Holyrood

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