10 May 2026
Newly elected MSPs will take part in their first formal meeting at the Scottish Parliament at 9.30am on Thursday 14 May.
All MSPs will start their work in the Parliament by making an oath or affirmation, which must happen before they can take part in any other parliamentary business at Holyrood.
X, as leader of the largest party in the Scottish Parliament, will be the first to be sworn in, followed by the other party leaders. Other MSPs will be called forward in alphabetical order.
This initial meeting will be chaired by current Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP.
In the afternoon MSPs will be asked to elect a new Presiding Officer, who will serve for the rest of the new parliamentary session. It is expected that two Deputy Presiding Officers will be elected later in the afternoon.
Ahead of their first meeting in the Chamber, MSPs will have taken part in the first part of an induction programme in the parliament building. The programme aims to welcome MSPs to their roles and will:
Speaking ahead of the MSPs arriving at the Scottish Parliament, David McGill, the Parliament’s Clerk/Chief Executive, said:
“It is great to be able to welcome new MSPs into the Parliament, where our dedicated staff team will be on hand to help them get acquainted with their roles and responsibilities.
“This Parliament’s first formal meeting, on Thursday 14 May, will be particularly significant for those performing their first duties as MSPs, and for those seeking to become Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officers. “The first sitting day has an important role in formally introducing MSPs to the public, but the election of the Presiding Officer in particular starts to set the agenda for the session ahead.”
The first sitting day will be able to be view live on the Parliament’s website.
It is a personal choice for Members whether they wish to take the oath or the affirmation and the effect of both is the same.
The oath states: "I (Member's Name), do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, His Heirs and Successors, according to Law. So help me God."
The affirmation states: "I (Member's Name), do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, His Heirs and Successors, according to Law."
Under sections 84(1) and (2), of the Scotland Act 1998, a person who is returned as a Member of the Scottish Parliament cannot take part in parliamentary proceedings until he or she has taken the oath of allegiance or made a solemn affirmation. Text for each Member, of either the oath or affirmation and according to their choice, will be waiting on the seat they are shown to. Members will be asked to repeat the words after the officiating Clerk. They may then repeat the oath or affirmation in a language other than English.
Any Member who refuses to take the oath or the affirmation will be unable to take part in any other proceedings of the Parliament and will not be paid any salary and allowances until he or she has done so.
If any Member has not taken the oath or affirmation within two months of the day of their election they shall cease to be a Member of the Parliament (unless the Parliament agrees to extend this period).
The Presiding Officer and two Deputy Presiding Officers must be elected within 14 days of the day after an election. They must all be sitting MSPs.
A Presiding Officer must be elected before the Parliament conducts any other proceedings, except the taking by its members of the oath of allegiance. The election of Deputy Presiding Officers must follow the election a Presiding Officer. Candidates must be nominated for the roles by MSPs. Nominations are open two hours before the voting period and close one hour before the voting period. A nomination will only be valid if it is seconded by another MSP.
At the beginning of the voting period, the person chairing the meeting will announce the name or names of the candidate or candidates validly nominated. The vote at the election of a Presiding Officer is by secret ballot. More than a quarter of MSPs must take part in the vote for the result to be valid.
Where there is only one candidate in a round of voting, MSPs may vote for or against that candidate or to abstain. At the completion of that round of voting the Clerk will count the votes and inform the person chairing the meeting of the number of votes for the candidate, the number of votes against the candidate and the number of votes to abstain. The candidate is elected if a simple majority of votes in the candidate’s favour is obtained.
Where there is more than one candidate in a round of voting, MSPs may vote for one of those candidates or to abstain. At the completion of each round of voting in which there is more than one candidate, the Clerk will count the votes and inform the person chairing the meeting of the number of votes for each candidate and the number of votes to abstain.
Where there are two candidates in a round of voting, a candidate is elected if a simple majority of votes in that candidate’s favour is obtained.
Where there are more than two candidates in a round of voting and the number of votes for one candidate exceeds the total number of votes for all the other candidates, that candidate will be elected.
Where there are more than two candidates in a round of voting but no candidate is elected, the candidate or candidates with the smallest number of votes will be eliminated and there will then be a further round or rounds of voting until a candidate is elected.
Where in any round of voting the candidates all receive the same number of votes no candidate shall be elected at that election.
A candidate may withdraw that candidate’s candidature at any stage between the rounds of voting.