Official Report 583KB pdf
Good afternoon. The first item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-20599, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on changes to business. I invite Graeme Dey to move the motion.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees to the following revisions to the programme of business for Wednesday 28 January 2026—
after
followed by Scottish Labour Party Debate: The Role of Political Decision Making in NHS Scandals
insert
followed by First Minister’s Statement: Update on the MV Bella-1
delete
9.30 pm Decision Time
and insert
10.00 pm Decision Time—[Graeme Dey.]
I call Russell Findlay.
14:00
We strongly oppose the Scottish National Party’s attempt to change today’s business motion. This Parliament has a wide range of powers and responsibilities, covering hospitals and general practitioners, schools and universities, police and prisons, roads and public transport. That is what Holyrood should be talking about, and it is what MSPs are paid to do. Those are the issues that people care about. However, John Swinney has spotted an opportunity for grievance and grandstanding—two of his favourite things—and a chance to cosplay as a world statesman while meddling in matters that are not his domain.
I welcome the United Kingdom-US military operation to stop a sanction-busting oil tanker. Such vessels flout sanctions that have been imposed against evil regimes. Oil that is transported by that global ghost fleet literally fuels Putin’s slaughter of innocent Ukrainians. Their illicit cargo bankrolls the Ayatollahs, who are murdering brave Iranians in the streets.
I do not know the exact details of the court action in question. I do not need to. Let due process play out. If the sanction-busting Russian skipper of a ghost fleet ship has some kind of legal grievance, that is his business. We should be focused on what we are paid to do—not least addressing the vast backlog of legislation that is being rushed through Parliament, with weeks until dissolution. Just last night, some MSPs said that they were unable to speak fully to certain amendments due to a lack of time. That is a recipe for yet more bad legislation from the Government.
Parliament’s time is precious and finite. The SNP Government frequently resists attempts to speak about serious issues for which it is responsible. We saw that recently with the scandal of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs misrepresenting an expert on grooming gangs. We are seeing it again right now with the SNP’s bizarre court case in which it is fighting to keep men in women’s prisons.
The SNP has failed Scotland. Our public services are getting worse and taxes are going up, but John Swinney wants to waste Parliament’s time to score political points on behalf of a seized Russian oil tanker. We say, “No, John Swinney—get on with the bloody day job.”
Mr Findlay, I ask you to reflect on the use of the adjective that you just used. It is not really what we would expect from such an august person as yourself. You might wish to reflect on that.
I call Graeme Dey to respond on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau.
14:03
It is clear that self-awareness is not a gift that has been bestowed on Russell Findlay when he accuses anyone of grandstanding.
The purpose of the amended business motion is to provide time for a statement by the First Minister to update the Scottish Parliament on the Bella 1. There has been, and there continues to be, significant public interest in the MV Bella 1, which is currently in the Moray Firth, in the wellbeing of the crew and in communications and information sharing between the Scottish and UK Governments.
Over the past few days, there has been considerable activity in relation to the Bella 1, and it is therefore right that time is taken to update Parliament and to set out the timeline of that engagement. The First Minister intends to update Parliament on the position of the crew, on communications with the UK Government and on the legal proceedings that have been heard in the Scottish courts this week—and, of course, to answer questions from members. I anticipate that those questions would engage subjects such as how the Scottish legal system was involved, the fact that the vessel was sitting in Scottish waters and the fact that 26 of the crew were taken ashore in Scotland.
An element of those legal proceedings is still live, which will limit a part of what the First Minister is able to say. However, given the rapid pace of developments, our view is that the Parliament should be updated today. [Interruption.]
Members, let us hear the minister. [Interruption.] Mr Ross, let us hear the minister. We have a lot—[Interruption.] We have an awful lot of business to conduct this afternoon, including portfolio questions. The more time that we spend on this bit, the less time we will have on selecting supplementary questions.
I call the minister.
I had concluded, Presiding Officer.
The question is, that motion S6M-20599, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on changes to business, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Members: No.
There will be a division.
There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.
14:05 Meeting suspended.
We come to the vote on motion S6M-20599, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau. Members should cast their votes now.
The vote is closed.
On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would have voted no.
Your vote will be recorded.
On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.
Your vote will be recorded.
For
Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP)
Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)
Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)
Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)
Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP)
Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)
Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind)
Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)
Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP)
Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP)
Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP)
Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)
FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)
Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD)
Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)
Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)
Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)
Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP)
McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP)
McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP)
McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)
Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)
Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)
Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab)
Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green)
Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)
Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP)
Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab)
Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP)
Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)
Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP)
Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)
Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)
Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP)
Against
Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind)
Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)
Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con)
Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)
Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)
Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)
Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con)
Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)
McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con)
Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)
Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)
The result of the division is: For 78, Against 25, Abstentions 0.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees to the following revisions to the programme of business for Wednesday 28 January 2026—
after
followed by Scottish Labour Party Debate: The Role of Political Decision Making in NHS Scandals
insert
followed by First Minister’s Statement: Update on the MV Bella-1
delete
9.30 pm Decision Time
and insert
10.00 pm Decision Time