MSPs Sworn In at Scottish Parliament
All 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), including 64 newcomers, have been officially sworn in following the recent Holyrood election. During a formal ceremony held in the parliamentary chamber, each MSP pledged allegiance to the King, either by affirmation or oath.
The declarations were delivered in a diverse range of languages, reflecting Scotland's multicultural representation. These included Scots, Gaelic, Hindi, Polish, Mandarin, and French.
Floral Symbols and Traditional Dress
MSPs wore traditional floral emblems during the ceremony, symbolizing their party affiliations and cultural heritage. Members of the Scottish National Party (SNP) donned white roses, inspired by Hugh MacDiarmid's 1931 poem The Little White Rose.
Conservative MSPs also wore white roses, although their choice was not connected to the nationalist poet. Labour representatives displayed their customary red roses, while Reform UK members wore Scottish heather. The Green Party's MSPs appeared to wear fuchsia pink gerberas, and Liberal Democrats carried mini mixed bouquets.
In addition to floral decorations, some parliamentarians wore traditional attire that reflected their diverse backgrounds.
Election of New Presiding Officer
Following the swearing-in, MSPs will vote to elect a new presiding officer, Holyrood's equivalent of the parliamentary speaker. This individual is responsible for chairing debates, selecting speakers, and representing the parliament both domestically and internationally.
The presiding officer position carries a salary of £136,112. The successful candidate must resign from their political party to assume the neutral role.
Four candidates are contesting the position to succeed former Green MSP Alison Johnstone. These include Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur, who previously served as a deputy presiding officer, and three SNP MSPs: Kenny Gibson, Stuart McMillan, and Clare Haughey.
Kenny Gibson, who chaired Holyrood's finance committee in the previous session, is noted for his candid approach, including criticism of the SNP government. He has pledged to invigorate parliamentary proceedings, stating during a hustings event that chamber business had become:
"dull"
Clare Haughey, former convener of the health committee, is regarded as the SNP leadership's preferred candidate. Meanwhile, Stuart McMillan, a long-serving backbencher, is considered an underdog in the contest.
The parliament will select the new presiding officer and two deputies through a secret ballot.
Deputy Presiding Officer Candidates and Salaries
For the deputy presiding officer roles, which come with a salary of £114,297, the candidates include SNP's Clare Adamson, Labour's Claire Baker, and Conservative Miles Briggs.
Next Steps: First Minister Election
Looking ahead, MSPs are scheduled to elect a new first minister next week. John Swinney of the SNP is the strong favourite, following his party's decisive election victory.
