Deputy Presiding Officers
The next item of business this afternoon is the election of two Deputy Presiding Officers. I have received six valid nominations—I am sorry, I have received three valid nominations for the positions of Deputy Presiding Officer. [Laughter.] There are six names on the paper, as each candidate has a scrutineer.
I will now read out the nominations. As I read each name, the member concerned should stand briefly. In alphabetical order, the names are: Robin Harper; Murray Tosh; and Trish Godman. [Laughter.]
The next item of business this afternoon is the election of two Deputy Presiding Officers. I have received six valid nominations—I am sorry, I have received three valid nominations for the positions of Deputy Presiding Officer. [Laughter.] There are six names on the paper, as each candidate has a scrutineer.
I will now read out the nominations. As I read each name, the member concerned should stand briefly. In alphabetical order, the names are: Robin Harper; Murray Tosh; and Trish Godman. [Laughter.]
I move a motion of no confidence in the Presiding Officer.
This was always going to be a rainbow Parliament of diversity. We will push on.
The elections shall proceed in accordance with rule 11.9 of standing orders, which requires that one or more voting rounds be held until a candidate is elected to the first Deputy Presiding Officer position. Thereafter, a further round, or rounds, of voting will be undertaken until a second Deputy Presiding Officer is elected. The procedure for the election of each Deputy Presiding Officer will be identical to that which was undertaken for the Presiding Officer's election. In each round, members will have only one vote.
I declare the election for the first Deputy Presiding Officer position open.
This was always going to be a rainbow Parliament of diversity. We will push on.
The elections shall proceed in accordance with rule 11.9 of standing orders, which requires that one or more voting rounds be held until a candidate is elected to the first Deputy Presiding Officer position. Thereafter, a further round, or rounds, of voting will be undertaken until a second Deputy Presiding Officer is elected. The procedure for the election of each Deputy Presiding Officer will be identical to that which was undertaken for the Presiding Officer's election. In each round, members will have only one vote.
I declare the election for the first Deputy Presiding Officer position open.
Members voted by secret ballot.
Voting for this round of the election of the first Deputy Presiding Officer is now closed. I ask the following members to come to the well of the chamber in order to scrutinise the counting of ballot papers: Mark Ballard for Robin Harper; Alex Fergusson for Murray Tosh; and Johann Lamont for Trish Godman. Candidates, too, may come to the well of the chamber for the count if they so wish.
In the first round of voting in the election of the first Deputy Presiding Officer, the total number of votes cast was 128. Three papers were spoiled, and I remind members that they have only one vote in each round. The number of votes cast for each candidate was: Trish Godman 59, Robin Harper 23, Murray Tosh 43.
As no candidate received an overall majority of votes cast, and as Robin Harper received the fewest votes, Robin Harper is eliminated from the election and a further round of voting will take place with Trish Godman and Murray Tosh as candidates. It is necessary to print new ballot papers, so I suspend the meeting for 15 minutes.
Voting for this round of the election of the first Deputy Presiding Officer is now closed. I ask the following members to come to the well of the chamber in order to scrutinise the counting of ballot papers: Mark Ballard for Robin Harper; Alex Fergusson for Murray Tosh; and Johann Lamont for Trish Godman. Candidates, too, may come to the well of the chamber for the count if they so wish.
In the first round of voting in the election of the first Deputy Presiding Officer, the total number of votes cast was 128. Three papers were spoiled, and I remind members that they have only one vote in each round. The number of votes cast for each candidate was: Trish Godman 59, Robin Harper 23, Murray Tosh 43.
As no candidate received an overall majority of votes cast, and as Robin Harper received the fewest votes, Robin Harper is eliminated from the election and a further round of voting will take place with Trish Godman and Murray Tosh as candidates. It is necessary to print new ballot papers, so I suspend the meeting for 15 minutes.
Meeting suspended.
On resuming—
Welcome back. Voting for the next round is now open.
Welcome back. Voting for the next round is now open.
Members voted by secret ballot.
Voting is closed and the count may start. I ask the scrutineers for each of the candidates to come forward. The candidates may accompany them if they so wish.
In the second round of voting in the election for the first Deputy Presiding Officer, 125 votes were cast and there were no spoiled papers. The number of votes that were cast for each candidate was: Trish Godman 72, Murray Tosh 48, Abstentions 5. Accordingly, as Trish Godman received more votes than the other candidate, and as more than 25 per cent of members voted, Trish Godman is elected as the first Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]
We now proceed to the election of the second Deputy Presiding Officer. Mr Harper dropped out of the first ballot but now returns to the contest. The candidates for the position are therefore Murray Tosh and Robin Harper. The ballot papers are ready and I invite members to vote.
Voting is closed and the count may start. I ask the scrutineers for each of the candidates to come forward. The candidates may accompany them if they so wish.
In the second round of voting in the election for the first Deputy Presiding Officer, 125 votes were cast and there were no spoiled papers. The number of votes that were cast for each candidate was: Trish Godman 72, Murray Tosh 48, Abstentions 5. Accordingly, as Trish Godman received more votes than the other candidate, and as more than 25 per cent of members voted, Trish Godman is elected as the first Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]
We now proceed to the election of the second Deputy Presiding Officer. Mr Harper dropped out of the first ballot but now returns to the contest. The candidates for the position are therefore Murray Tosh and Robin Harper. The ballot papers are ready and I invite members to vote.
Members voted by secret ballot.
In the election for the second Deputy Presiding Officer, the number of votes that were cast for each candidate was: Robin Harper 22, Murray Tosh 102, Abstentions 1. There were no spoiled papers. Accordingly, as Murray Tosh received more votes than the other candidate, and as more than 25 per cent of members voted, Murray Tosh is hereby elected as the second Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]
Members might also wish to thank Robin Harper for standing in the contest. [Applause.]
I have one brief announcement to make before we are finished. I remind members that immediately following completion of today's business, they should remain in the chamber to allow for the taking of the 2003 official commemorative photograph.
I close this first meeting of the second session of the Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]
In the election for the second Deputy Presiding Officer, the number of votes that were cast for each candidate was: Robin Harper 22, Murray Tosh 102, Abstentions 1. There were no spoiled papers. Accordingly, as Murray Tosh received more votes than the other candidate, and as more than 25 per cent of members voted, Murray Tosh is hereby elected as the second Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]
Members might also wish to thank Robin Harper for standing in the contest. [Applause.]
I have one brief announcement to make before we are finished. I remind members that immediately following completion of today's business, they should remain in the chamber to allow for the taking of the 2003 official commemorative photograph.
I close this first meeting of the second session of the Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]
Meeting closed at 16:35.