A proposal to scrap Scotland's not proven verdict has been rejected by MSPs.

The Criminal Verdicts (Scotland) Bill would have reduced the available verdicts to simply guilty or not guilty and increased the number of jurors required for a verdict from a simple majority to a "qualified majority" of at least two-thirds.

Labour MSP Michael McMahon, who drafted the bill, said the pre-legislative consultation he conducted found a majority in favour of scrapping the not proven verdict.

It was his decision to include it in a bill that also proposed an amendment to jury majorities which ultimately caused concern among MSPs.

Justice secretary Michael Matheson said he was "completely open-minded" about the proposal to move to two verdicts but said other reforms should be considered more carefully.

Holyrood's justice committee also found support for scrapping not proven but convener Christine Grahame told MSPs further research was required on jury majorities. The bill was rejected with 80 votes against and 28 votes in favour.

Mr McMahon said: "Not only can the current three-verdict system cause confusion, it can also lead to the accused being stigmatised.

"This can arise because the not proven verdict is often thought of the jury's way of saying: 'We know you are guilty but we cannot prove it'. As the old joke goes: 'Not guilty - but don't do it again'."

Ms Grahame commended Mr McMahon for his "tenacity and informed pursuit" of the bill.

She said: "The committee was generally supportive of the proposals related to the abolition of the three-verdict system.

"Michael McMahon's bill has shone that welcome light on the ambiguities of the not proven and the issues it continues to throw up for justice in Scotland.

"Not proven is often deeply unsatisfactory for victims and no better for the accused, and like many members of the committee I believe that the not proven verdict is on borrowed time.

"While we understand the reason for Mr McMahon including the measures for jury majorities, it was the committee's view, having considered all of the evidence put forward, that further research on decision-making by juries is needed before proceeding with the other reforms set out in his ill.

"The committee was, therefore, unable to support the general principles of his bill."

Mr Matheson said any changes to the jury system should be considered in a "holistic manner" and in line with the recommendations of a wide-ranging review of legal safeguards by senior judge Lord Bonomy.

He said: "I am completely open-minded about whether Scotland retains three verdicts or should move to two verdicts.

"But the key components of the Scottish jury system - the simple majority required for conviction, the three verdicts and the size of the jury are interlinked."

He said any reform must be done in consideration of the impact it could have on all of these areas.

"Whilst there was clear support for the removal of the not proven verdict, there was no general consensus to do so alongside increasing the jury majority," he said.