The Scottish Parliament

The Presiding Officer: This is really the Speaker but presumably the title change is to encourage the office-holder, Lord Steel, to keep his trap shut. From 'Holyrood Jargon' by Iain Watson in the Sunday Herald, 16 th May 1999.

The Presiding Officers of the Scottish Parliament

Presiding Officer George Reid before the Royal Opening of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, 9 th October 2004
Image © Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body 2004

The Scottish Parliament has a Presiding Officer who is the equivalent of the Westminster Speaker. The Presiding Officer also chairs the Business Committee of the Scottish Parliamentand is its representative in meetings with other parliaments. The Presiding Officer renounces his party allegiance and does not vote in divisions.

There are also two Deputy Presiding Officers of equal rank. They continue as members of their party groups and may vote in divisions.

14 th May 2007 -

	Position	MSP
	Presiding Officer	Alex Fergusson, MSP
	Deputy Presiding Officer	Alasdair Morgan, MSP
	Deputy Presiding Officer	Trish Godman, MSP

8 th May 2003 - 14 th May 2007

	Position	MSP
	Presiding Officer	Rt Hon George Reid, MSP
	Deputy Presiding Officer	Trish Godman, MSP
	Deputy Presiding Officer	Murray Tosh, MSP

29 th November 2001 - 8 th May 2003

	Position	MSP
	Presiding Officer	Rt Hon Lord Steel of Aikwood, MSP
	Deputy Presiding Officer	George Reid, MSP
	Deputy Presiding Officer	Murray Tosh, MSP

12 th May 1999 - 29 th November 2001

	Position	MSP
	Presiding Officer	Rt Hon Lord Steel of Aikwood, MSP
	Deputy Presiding Officer	Patricia Ferguson, MSP
	Deputy Presiding Officer	George Reid, MSP

12 th May 1999

	Position	MSP
	Acting Presiding Officer	Dr Winifred Ewing, MSP

The Elections of the Presiding Officers and Deputy Presiding Officers

Winnie Ewing, Mother of the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament was opened on Wednesday 12 th May 1999. Dr Winnie Ewing SNP MSP for Highlands & Islands took the chair as Mother of the House and oversaw the election of the Presiding Officer. The election is the only vote in the parliament which is held by secret ballot. Votes cast were as follows:

Election of the Presiding Officer, 12 th May 1999

There were 3 abstentions. As Lord Steel of Aikwood obtained an overall majority he was elected as Presiding Officer and took over from Winnie Ewing for the rest of the session.

The First Deputy Presiding Officer - First Vote, 12 th May 1999

There was one abstention and two spoilt papers. The interpretation of Standing Orders by members of the Consultative Steering Group (who wrote the Standing Orders) was that as both Deputy Presiding Officers are of equal rank, George Reid and Patricia Ferguson should both be declared as elected. However, Lord Steel decided to interpret the rules in his own inimicable manner and issued orders that a second election should take place with John Young being eliminated.

The First Deputy Presiding Officer - Second Vote, 12 th May 1999

There were 2 abstentions and no spoilt papers. Patricia Ferguson was thus elected as the First Deputy Presiding Officer. Lord Steel then decided to order a fourth election for the Second Deputy Presiding Officer.

The Second Deputy Presiding Officer, 12 th May 1999

There were 22 abstentions and/or spoilt papers. George Reid was thus declared to be duly elected as the Second Deputy Presiding Officer.

New Deputy Presiding Officer, 29 th November 2001

Following the appointment of Patricia Ferguson as Minister for Parliamentary Business, one of the two Deputy Presiding Officer's posts became vacant and an election was held on the 29 th November 2001.

There was 1 abstention. As Murray Tosh obtained an overall majority he was elected as a Deputy Presiding Officer.

Election of the Presiding Officer, 8 th May 2003

George Reid was the only nominee for Presiding Officer, but as standing order 11.9 states that the Presiding Officer must be elected with a simple majority of votes and by at least 25 % of the parliament's membership, a vote was held. George Reid obtained the votes of 113 out of the 129 MSPs with seven votes against and nine abstentions. As George Reid obtained an overall majority he was elected as the new Presiding Officer and took over from Lord Steel of Aikwood for the rest of the session.

The First Deputy Presiding Officer - First Vote, 8 th May 2003

There were 1 abstention and 3 spoilt papers. As no candidate had obtained an overall majority, Robin Harper was eliminated and a second ballot held.

The First Deputy Presiding Officer - Second Vote, 8 th May 2003

125 voyes were cast with no spoilt papers. As Trish Godman received more votes than Murray Tosh, and as more than 25 % of members voted, Trish Godman was elected as the first Deputy Presiding Officer.

The Second Deputy Presiding Officer - First Vote, 8 th May 2003

There was one abstention and no spoiled papers. As Murray Tosh received more votes than Robin Harper, and as more than 25 % of members voted, Murray Tosh was elected as the second Deputy Presiding Officer.

Election of the Presiding Officer, 14 th May 2007

The elexction was to have been held on the 9 th May but was postponed due to a lack of nominees. As Alex Fergusson received more votes than Margo MacDonald, and as more than 25 % of members voted, Alex Fergusson was elected as the Presiding Officer.

The First Deputy Presiding Officer - First Vote, 14 th May 2007

There were 4 spoilt papers due to MSPs voting for more than one candidate. As no candidate had obtained an overall majority, Jamie Stone was eliminated and a second ballot held.

The First Deputy Presiding Officer - Second Vote, 14 th May 2007

As no candidate had obtained an overall majority, Margaret Smith was eliminated and a third ballot held.

The First Deputy Presiding Officer - Third Vote, 14 th May 2007

As Alasdair Morgan obtained an overall majority and more than 25 % of MSPs had voted, he was elected as the First Deputy Presiding Officer.

The Second Deputy Presiding Officer - First Vote, 14 th May 2007

As Trish Godman obtained an overall majority and more than 25 % of MSPs had voted, she was elected as the Second Deputy Presiding Officer.