Scottish Green MSPs Maggie Chapman and Kate Nevens have been accused of an extremist political stunt after wearing pro-Palestine scarves while being sworn in as MSPs. The pair swore allegiance to the King draped in the keffiyeh, the checked Arab headdress synonymous with the Palestinian cause.
Conservative Criticism
The Scottish Conservatives said it was blatant hypocrisy, as Green MSPs previously objected to women's rights campaigners wearing suffragette colours in parliament. Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton stated: This sums up the extremist Greens blatant hypocrisy when it comes to parliamentary rules. They were the first to moan when women's right activists wore suffragette scarfs in Holyrood, but it's a different story when it comes to a cause they support.
Parliamentary Guidance
The parliament's Guidance on Conduct in the Chamber tells MSPs not to wear clothes that could be considered a prop or overtly political or campaigning in nature. However, the final decision lay with the Presiding Officer, who yesterday morning was ex-Green Alison Johnstone and did not object.
Ms Chapman, re-elected a North East list MSP last week, was one of several Nationalists to bridle before swearing allegiance to the King. Holding a clenched fist aloft, she stated: I affirm the sovereignty of the people of Scotland and hereby declare and pledge that, in all my actions and deliberations, their interests shall be paramount.
Other MSPs
The parliament's first trans MSP, Iris Duane, a Glasgow list MSP for the Greens, said she wanted to create a fairer and more equal future in which nobody is born to rule. Ms Nevens walked away in silence when asked about her scarf by the Mail. The Greens were asked for comment.
A parliament spokesman said: It is a matter for the Presiding Officer in the chair to decide on what is acceptable.
Oath and Affirmation
For the first time, most MSPs (67 to 62) made a secular affirmation instead of taking a religious oath. The vast majority of Green and SNP MSPs swore allegiance according to law, but a majority in other parties chose the oath ending so help me God. All 12 Conservative MSPs took the religious oath, the Humanist Society reported. Many MSPs repeated their words in a second language, with Polish, Dutch, French, Mandarin, Gaelic, Scots, the Shetland dialect and British Sign Language all used.
New Presiding Officer
MSPs later elected SNP veteran Kenneth Gibson as Holyrood's new Presiding Officer. The Cunninghame North MSP, who defied his party to oppose Nicola Sturgeon's gender reforms, was previously convener of the finance committee. He won by 74 votes to 54 over Clare Haughey, who didn't bother to attend an informal hustings for the job, and was seen as John Swinney's stooge. Mr Gibson joked his victory had been unexpected for the Scottish Government. He said: I intend to be imaginative and innovative, but I'll also be firm in the chair where necessary. Reminded he was a maverick himself – getting the phrase ba hair into the official record in 2000 – he grinned: I'm a repentant sinner.
