Holyrood's new presiding officer has declared his intention to make the Parliament "more enjoyable", while simultaneously cautioning MSPs that there will be "repercussions" for those who breach the rules governing parliamentary conduct. Kenneth Gibson, who previously served as convener of Holyrood's Finance Committee, emerged victorious after a competitive election process, defeating fellow SNP MSPs Clare Haughey and Stuart McMillan, as well as Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur.
Gibson's Vision for a More Engaging Parliament
Mr Gibson, who had earlier voiced concerns that Holyrood had become "dull", outlined his approach: "I intend to be imaginative, I intend to be innovative, but I will also be firm in the chair where necessary. I want to make everything somewhat more enjoyable than it has perhaps been in the past. It had got dull, so let's hope that era has come to an end." His election marks a shift in tone for the chamber, with promises of inclusivity and firm leadership.
A Critical Eye on Government
During his tenure as Finance Committee convener, Mr Gibson was not afraid to critique the Scottish Government, notably stating last year that ministers must place "greater emphasis on longer term financial planning." He acknowledged on Thursday that his election as presiding officer was "probably" an unexpected outcome for the Government. The role, akin to that of the Speaker in the House of Commons, involves chairing debates and managing the weekly clashes of First Minister's Questions.
The Election Process
The election unfolded over three rounds of voting. Stuart McMillan was eliminated after the first round, followed by Liam McArthur after the second. In the final round, Mr Gibson secured 74 votes, defeating Clare Haughey who garnered 54. Expressing his delight, Mr Gibson stated, "One of the things I'm so delighted about is I got support from right across the parliamentary chamber, I think that's really important. We're going to be an inclusive Parliament, but also a Parliament that works for everyone – not just for the people of Scotland outside, but also within. I want to make sure every party feels it's got a role to play in this Parliament in making it better."
Swearing-In Ceremony and Political Dynamics
Mr Gibson's election followed the formal swearing-in of all 129 MSPs elected in the previous week's Scottish elections. As the largest party, the SNP saw John Swinney take the oath first, declaring his "primary loyalty" to the "people of Scotland." Reform UK's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord, whose party shares joint second-largest status with Scottish Labour (both holding 17 MSPs), took his oath next, following alphabetical order. Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar followed suit.
Outside Holyrood, Stand Up To Racism Scotland staged a small protest, branding Reform as "racist through and through." Scottish Green co-leaders Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer showed support as they entered the building. The Greens, after their best-ever Holyrood result, took their oaths with declarations of loyalty to the people of Scotland rather than the Crown. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton also took their oaths.
MSPs used a variety of languages for their oaths, including Gaelic, Doric, Arabic, British Sign Language, Dutch, French, Mandarin, Hindi, and Polish. New Green MSP Q Manivannan, originally from India and requiring a new visa for a full parliamentary term, described Scotland as "bonnie, bonnie home."
