Majority of MSPs demand Bill Walker resignation MORE than half of Scotland's MSPs have backed a Holyrood motion calling on convicted wife-beater Bill Walker to ­resign his parliamentary seat, it emerged last night. Politicians from all of Holyrood's main parties have supported the demand for Walker, 71, to quit as an MSP. The Scottish Parliament returns from its summer recess next week. Walker was found guilty of a series of attacks on his three ex-wives and a step-daughter, but cannot be disqualified because he received a summary trial in a sheriff court, meaning he can only be handed a maximum sentence of 12 months. A sentence of more than 12 months is required for automatic disqualification as an MSP. The attempt to get Walker to quit has been backed by 66 of Holyrood's 129 MSPs. Under parliamentary rules, the 21 ministers and the Presiding Officer are unable to sign motions. That leaves 41 MSPs who have not yet joined the call for him to quit. Supporters of the motion include MSPs from the SNP, which expelled Walker when allegations of abuse were first made about the politician, who was elected to parliament in 2011. Walker has so far refused to resign as the Dunfermline MSP and even put his name to a parliamentary motion, on football, after he was convicted. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the growing calls from MSPs for Walker to quit showed there was "no place for a wife-beater in the Scottish Parliament." Mr Rennie, who lodged the motion, has also asked for legal advice on ways of stopping Walker from collecting a resettlement grant of £29,048 if he holds on to his seat until the next election, in 2016. Mr Rennie said: "The message to Bill Walker is loud and clear: we don't want you back in Holyrood. For every day that Bill Walker remains a parliamentarian, it's another day that offends our democracy. With only a few days before parliament returns from recess, we have to make clear that it would be wrong for Bill Walker to take his seat at the back of the chamber as if it were business as usual. Walker, who now sits as an Independent, is due to return to court for sentencing on 20 September. Labour MSP Jenny Marra said the seriousness of the crimes meant it was unacceptable for Walker to continue as an MSP. Ms Marra said: "His position is untenable given the severity of the crimes over a long period of time. It's not acceptable that someone convicted of such serious crimes should sit in parliament. There was also backing among Walker's former colleagues in the SNP for the MSP to quit, with former ministers Stewart Stevenson and Adam Ingram among the signatories. SNP MSP Jamie Hepburn said: "It's inconceivable that a man found guilty of these crimes can continue to hold public office. He should do the decent thing and resign. Walker's resignation would force a by-election in Dunfermline in what would almost certainly be a keenly fought contest between the SNP and Labour. Conservative MSP Liz Smith said voters expected Walker to resign his position, and suggested he would now come under even more pressure to leave ­Holyrood. She said: "From the public perspective, there's an expectation that he should stand down and the pressure will be intense and not just from the public. There's an overwhelming feeling he's not fit to be a parliamentarian. Walker's parliamentary office said the MSP would be made aware of the attempt to force him to resign.