Meeting of the Parliament 14 May 2026 [Draft]
Everyone has now voted. Once again, I ask scrutineers and candidates to please go to the back of the chamber. The votes will be counted for the final time.
In the final round of voting to elect a second Deputy Presiding Officer, the number of votes that were cast for each candidate is as follows: Miles Briggs 55, Katy Clark 68. There were three abstentions and one spoiled paper.
Accordingly, as Katy Clark received more votes than the total number of votes that were received by the other candidate, and as more than 25 per cent of members voted, Katy Clark is elected as the second Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]
I thank all the candidates for Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer who participated in proceedings this afternoon and this evening.
The next meeting of the Parliament will be at 2 pm on Tuesday 19 May to select a nominee for the appointment of First Minister. Following that, there will be a photograph of us all, so wear your Sunday best.
I now close this first meeting of the seventh session of the Scottish Parliament.
Meeting closed at 19:43.