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Scotland's new parliament:
the election of the Presiding Officer
Editorial
Filed 17 May 07
©www.land-care.org.uk
As mentioned in the previous article which commented
on the results of the General Election for the third Scottish Parliament
that was held on 3rd May 07 (1),
the next step in forming the new Parliament was the election of
a new Presiding Officer. With the Scottish National Party (SNP)
only having one more seat (47) than the Labour Party's 46, neither
were willing to give up one of their seats for the purpose of providing
candidates for the post of Presiding Officer. It is a condition
of the post that the successful candidate gives up his political
affiliation. The LIberal Democrats also did not want to know. A
potential nomination emerged as Margo MacDonald, the only Independent
MSP in the new Parliament. But there was disquiet among rather many
MSPs as to whether she would have sufficient gravitas for
the post, and worries that she had had a rather public fall out
with Alex Salmond within the SNP (before becoming Independent).
As Alex Salmond was a possible candidate for the post of First Minister,
this did not seem wise.
Then Alex Fergusson, Scottish Conservative MSP
for Galloway and Upper Nithesdale, came forward as a candidate with
the blessing of his party leader, Annabel Goldie, who had previously
ruled herself out.
Alex Fergusson,
the new Presiding Officer in the Scottish Parliament
(Photo Adam Elder/Scottish
Parliament)
The post of Presiding Officer is an important one. It is he or she
who determines the business of the Parliament, and who is responsible
for keeping order in the House. The Presiding Officer also has an
important role in presenting the image of the Parliament to the
outside world and as an ambassador for Scotland.
When it came to the vote, Alex Fergusson
won handsomely over Margo MacDonald.
What are the repercussions following Alex Ferguson's appointment
as Presiding Officer?
Clearly, the Scottish Conservatives will have
one less vote for their Party in the new Parliament.This is a pity
as the Scottish Conservatives should have an important role in modifying
the somewhat extreme views that are sometimes held by the SNP, Labour
and Liberal Democrats that could result in anarchy, especially with
the two Greens "selling" their votes to whoever will give
them support for the beating of their single issue extremist drum.
There was a serious risk that Scotland's new Parliament
could descend into the same sort of shambles that characterised
the election itself, with a staggering 140,000 voting papers spoiled.
But as a television commentator remarked, who
is Alex Fergusson?
He is widely respected by many of his political
colleagues across the parties. He earned himself a reputation for
fairness when acting as convener of a controversial committee in
the previous Parliament. He was returned to the new Parliament by
his constituency with an increased majority. But, outside that constituency,
he is relatively unknown as a public political figure: perhaps indicating
that he had not been particularly effective in opposing the poor
legislation that the previous Labour/Liberal Democrat Coalition
had set about imposing on the Scottish people.
He is an old Etonian and used to be a sheep farmer,
achieving high respect especially among the breeders of the Blackface
variety. While many folk are all too happy to mock the public school
system, it does turn out (admittedly with some conspicuous exceptions)
many who know how to behave in public in terms of their demenaour
and their politeness to all, coupled with a culture of responsibility.
And so it is with Alex Fergusson.
In these early days, so crucial to the formation
of a credible new Scottish Parliament, he has performed well.
The Scottish Conservatives have lost a seat in
the Parliament, bringing them even with the Liberal Democrats at
16. But they have gained great credibility by providing a Presiding
Officer who looks as though he might well be able to steer a potential
rabble into performing with some decorum.
©www.land-care.org.uk
References
1. Editorial (2007). Scottish
election results.
See SOCIAL/ECO|N|OMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, filed 07 Kay
07, www.land-care.org.uk Click
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