Meeting of the Parliament
Meeting date: Thursday, November 22, 2012
Official Report
845KB pdf
Presiding Officer’s Ruling
Good morning. I would like to make a statement before we start.
The standing orders of this Parliament explicitly state that members shall respect the authority of the Presiding Officer. It is inevitable that decisions of the chair will not meet the approval of all members at all times. That has always been the case. Nevertheless, it is imperative that the authority of the chair is respected at all times. If that were not the case, the Parliament would be unable to carry out the functions that the people of Scotland have asked us to undertake.
Yesterday, Michael McMahon showed gross discourtesy and disrespect to the chair. However, as I did not clearly hear what the member said at the time, I decided to speak to him privately and to take time to study the Official Report of proceedings once it was available. I acknowledge that Mr McMahon apologised. Had Mr McMahon not done so, I would have referred the matter to the Parliamentary Bureau, so serious did I consider the discourtesy to the chair.
Taking all of the circumstances into account, I have decided to exclude Mr McMahon from the chamber for the duration of today’s chamber business. This is not a decision that I have taken lightly.
Members will recall that, on 30 October, I referred to Donald Dewar’s words on the opening of the Scottish Parliament when he explained to us:
“This is about more than our politics and our laws. This is about who we are, how we carry ourselves.”
I told members then that I expected them to consider very carefully their choice of words and the tone in which they are delivered. It is a matter of regret that, a few short weeks later, we have witnessed the type of behaviour that Mr McMahon displayed yesterday.
We have important business in front of us. Those who elect us to this place look to us, as parliamentarians, to show leadership and to debate the issues before us with respect and dignity for the institution of Parliament. As Presiding Officer, I will support to the limits of my power the conduct of parliamentary business in this chamber. I will, however, not tolerate behaviour that falls short of the standards that the people whom we are privileged to represent expect of us.