Presiding Officer
The first meeting of the fourth session of Parliament is resumed for the election of the Presiding Officer. I have received three valid nominations for the position of Presiding Officer. I will announce the nominations and invite each candidate to make themselves known to the chamber as their names are announced. In alphabetical order, they are Christine Grahame, Hugh Henry and Tricia Marwick. [Interruption.]
I ask people to turn off their mobile telephones.
The election will proceed in accordance with rule 11.9 of standing orders. If no member receives an absolute majority in the first round of voting, there will be subsequent rounds. Members should remain in their seats until I invite them to collect their ballot papers from the clerks at the back of the chamber. Members with surnames beginning A to F should collect their ballot papers from the desk to my left. Members with surnames beginning G to M, up to McGrigor—as in “Jamie”—should use the desk at the back, and members with surnames from McInnes to Z should use the desk to my right.
Members should confirm their name with the clerks before being issued with a ballot paper. For members’ privacy in marking ballot papers, voting booths are available at the back of the chamber. Under rule 11.9.5 of standing orders, members may not receive more than one ballot paper in each round. Ballot papers should be marked with an X, before being folded and placed in one of the ballot boxes provided at the rear of the chamber.
At the end of each voting period, I will invite any scrutineers who have been nominated by each candidate to monitor the counting of votes at the back of the chamber. There, clerks will empty the ballot boxes and begin counting the votes. Candidates may also observe the count. I will announce the results of each round of voting when all the votes have been counted and verified.
I declare the election of the Presiding Officer open. Members should proceed to the appropriate desk to receive their ballot papers.
Members voted by secret ballot.
In the first round of voting in the election of Presiding Officer, the number of votes cast for each candidate was: Christine Grahame 32, Tricia Marwick 45 and Hugh Henry 49. There was one spoilt ballot paper. Accordingly, as no candidate has received an overall majority of the votes cast and as Christine Grahame has received the fewest votes, she is eliminated from the election and a further vote will take place between Tricia Marwick and Hugh Henry.
There will be a short break while new ballot papers are printed. Accordingly, I suspend the meeting for five minutes.
14:52
Meeting suspended.
14:55
On resuming—
Ballot papers for the second round of voting are now ready. Members should use the same voting procedure as before. I remind members to use a single cross to indicate their preferred candidate.
The voting period is now open.
Members voted by secret ballot.
In the second round of voting in the election of the Presiding Officer, the number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows: Hugh Henry 55, Tricia Marwick 73. Accordingly, as Tricia Marwick received more votes than the total number of votes that the other candidate received, and as more than 25 per cent of members voted, Tricia Marwick is elected as the Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer. [Applause.]
I thank all the candidates in the election of the Presiding Officer, as we come to yet another first in the series of firsts that have come to the fore in the past week. Scotland’s electorate seem to take great delight in delivering a Parliament with significantly different challenges at each and every election.
First, in 1999, the electorate delivered our first coalition Government. In 2003, they delivered what became known as the rainbow Parliament, with originally six and, ultimately, seven parties and groupings recognised on the Parliamentary Bureau. In 2007, they delivered our first minority Government and now, in 2011, they have delivered yet another first—a single party has gained an outright majority for the first time.
The Parliament itself seems to have taken the road of firsts to heart by electing a female member as the Presiding Officer for the first time. Furthermore, it has elected a member from the likely party of Government for the first time. In itself, that will present fresh challenges.
Having worked with Tricia Marwick on the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body over the past four years, I can testify to her ability to put the Parliament’s interests before the interests of any party in it. I know that I join all members in wishing her, her husband Frank, and her family our very best wishes as she takes on this vitally important role.
I would not dream of offering my successor any advice—except perhaps this: if, Tricia, you find after a few months that you are not quite as well known to the public as you would like to be, get yourself involved in a live television draw for a football cup semi-final and make a complete hash of it. I guarantee that you will be a household name after that. [Laughter.]
More seriously, the role of Presiding Officer carries with it a cloak of great privilege and even greater responsibility. It is one that I have worn to the best of my ability, but I am now delighted to pass it on to my elected successor. I have great pleasure in inviting the Presiding Officer to come forward and take the chair for the fourth session of our Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]
First, I thank all my parliamentary colleagues from all parties for their support today. I also thank my predecessor, Alex Fergusson, for his work in the past four years. His was a most difficult period, with the potential to have to use the casting vote every day. I hope to be spared that difficulty. He was a class act and a difficult one to follow; I will do my very, very best.
There are some special people who deserve my thanks, because it is only with their support and love that I can do this job: my husband Frankie, my children Louise and Steven, and my lovely grandchildren Róisín and Odhrán. I love you all.
As Presiding Officer, I will be fair to all members. I will always act in the interests of the Scottish Parliament. Now we have work to do. Thank you. [Applause.]
First, I thank all my parliamentary colleagues from all parties for their support today. I also thank my predecessor, Alex Fergusson, for his work in the past four years. His was a most difficult period, with the potential to have to use the casting vote every day. I hope to be spared that difficulty. He was a class act and a difficult one to follow; I will do my very, very best.
There are some special people who deserve my thanks, because it is only with their support and love that I can do this job: my husband Frankie, my children Louise and Steven, and my lovely grandchildren Róisín and Odhrán. I love you all.
As Presiding Officer, I will be fair to all members. I will always act in the interests of the Scottish Parliament. Now we have work to do. Thank you. [Applause.]