Hansard

It is actually so much easier when people are not saying nice things about you in the chair. [Laughter.]

Seriously, though, friends—it is my privilege to make some remarks to close this last scheduled meeting of session 6. We began this session during the Covid pandemic, in a socially distanced chamber, and I did not chair a full chamber until April 2022, some 11 months after the previous election. No wonder I thought that those early sessions of First Minister’s question time were very quiet.

As we end the session, the Parliament looks a little different than it did in May 2021. We have celebrated some of life’s most joyous milestones together, and, sadly, mourning has often been all too present.

We lost our very dear colleague, Christina McKelvie, and we have lost too many distinguished former colleagues who served the Parliament at the highest level. My thoughts are with all those who have lost those most dear to them.

I did not get actively involved in politics until I was in my 30s. I joined neighbours to attempt to save some local school playing fields. I then went on—almost immediately—to join the Scotland forward campaign for a Scottish parliament, before I joined a political party.

When Robin Harper was elected as the sole Green MSP in the first election to the newly formed Parliament, he advertised for two staff. I was not a party member, but I had 17 years of experience in the private and public sectors. Robin gave me a chance. In September 1999, I got on the bus to the Parliament headquarters. I felt my privilege on that day as I feel it today. As part of Robin’s team of two, with Steve Burgess, I vividly remember a meeting when we sat in a little office that looked over George IV Bridge where we discussed Robin’s bill proposal and how we were going to work with others to bring about the change that he sought. In that moment, I felt the unique privilege that elected representatives have to make life in Scotland better for people. That sense has never left me.

I worked with Robin as he served the people of Lothian from 1999 until 2011, when I was elected to do so myself. I am not a 99er in the traditional sense, but I have been here for 27 years. I served for three four-year sessions as a staffer and for three five-year sessions as an elected member. I learned a great deal as a staffer—not least how impossible it is to be an MSP without a committed team. I thank all staffers. I thank my current team of Richard, Sally and Mhairi, and I thank each and every one of you who has worked with me in representing and serving the Lothian region. I thank the people of Lothian for granting me the privilege of doing so.

It is fair to say that much has changed since 1999. The impact of email and social media on engagement is huge. The pace of the news cycle and parliamentary life is so much faster and the powers of the Parliament are greater. The core purpose of the Parliament and parliamentarians remains to represent constituents, hold the Government of the day to account, debate ideas and work together to legislate and improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

With Patrick Harvie, I was elected as one of a party of only two members in 2011. We each tried to cover half of the Government’s portfolios. [Laughter.] Collaboration and relationships across parties were absolutely essential, which is how I have worked. On the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill, the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Bill, the Social Security (Scotland) Bill, the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill, the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill and more, I worked across all parties with many MSPs to get the amendments that I lodged agreed to. I thank all members for their collaboration.

It is an immense honour to be elected by your peers to preside over the Parliament. It is a profound privilege to chair our business and to represent the Parliament at home and abroad. It is always stimulating, endlessly varied and never dull. I pay tribute to my Deputy Presiding Officers, who have shared the challenge with me. I thank them for their hard work, support, wise counsel and, indeed, the laughs that we have shared. As a team, we extend our thanks to the staff in the Presiding Officer’s office—Joanne, Gail, Jen and Mark—for their steadfast support throughout the session.

It is fair to say that we and colleagues recognise that we are all well supported in the Parliament by all staff. As the Presiding Officer, I have had the privilege of learning more about what it takes to run the Parliament and have had the pleasure of working with many different staff teams that I had not met before. Whatever you do in the Parliament, whether you work face to face with MSPs every day in public-facing roles or behind the scenes, I thank each and every one of you for all that you do. I know that your efforts are deeply appreciated by every member.

In this session, it has been an honour to deepen relationships with those who serve us in so many ways, including civic Scotland, the emergency services, faith communities and the armed forces. It has been an honour to welcome thousands of people into the Parliament to meetings, events and conferences. It is always a particular honour and joy to welcome and meet in the chat room our youngest citizens who come to the Parliament on school visits—it is fair to say that I have always found their questions the best preparation for hustings. I give special thanks to the Scottish Youth Parliament and the Children’s Parliament for their partnership. I tell our young pupils that I could never have imagined myself standing for election. I tell them that I have learned that democracy will never be optimal until we are all involved. I tell them that democracy cannot be at its most powerful if only some voices are heard, if only some votes are cast or if only some folk know that they can respond to a consultation. The Parliament belongs to the people of Scotland, and all must be heard.

As Presiding Officer, I have sought always to ensure that all members have optimal opportunity to hold the Scottish Government to account and to represent our constituents who send us here. The Deputy Presiding Officers and I have worked scrupulously to ensure that those opportunities are available equally to all members. I have used opportunities for topical questions and urgent questions to the fullest extent possible, and I have sought to reclaim the final 15 minutes of First Minister’s question time for back benchers. We have worked to get in as many members as possible across portfolio question time sessions. Throughout session 6, I have advocated for reform of question sessions to make them as responsive as possible. It is essential that the Parliament has the opportunity, each day, to discuss the most important concerns of the people of Scotland.

I have heard it said that social distancing prevented members from getting together in the early days of this session, and that that has contributed to a less collaborative approach than has been experienced in other sessions. I would say: wherever an opportunity presents itself to get to know a colleague, take it, because we have so much more in common than that which divides us.

There are only 129 of us in the entire country who have the great privilege of speaking in this beautiful chamber. In the chair, the Deputy Presiding Officers and I have sought to encourage and model respectful behaviour. With a recognition that there is a high premium on freedom of speech for elected members, debate has been very robust at times, but we must use that freedom wisely. We work in an incredible building, which has been built for democracy, and we are free to debate ideas here. That is an aspiration that many continue to strive for around the globe, and we must never take it for granted.

We can debate passionately and disagree whole-heartedly. We can scrutinise policy robustly and defend policy robustly, and we can do so while respecting one another. In respecting one another and respecting the Parliament, we respect the folks across this amazing country who sent us here. We respect their aspirations for their Parliament, and we challenge the disillusionment with politics that we must acknowledge.

This session, we have celebrated our most diverse Parliament ever. We know that Parliaments that more truly represent the communities that they serve are more trusted and make better decisions. I hope that the 45 per cent of women colleagues we have today is not a high point, but the foundation of a truly representative Parliament.

The welcome progress that we have made cannot be taken for granted, so I thank all parties for being part of the Parliament for all audit. Much progress has been made, and other recommendations will be carried forward by the Parliament in the next session. Thank you to our incredible women experts and the willing staff secretariat who supported us, and to each and every one of my colleagues for their support in that work. “Implement those recommendations” is not the catchiest phrase, so I will instead say, “Just do it.”

To those members who have decided that now is the time to step down, thank you so much for your service to the people of Scotland and for your part in the history of the Parliament. To those who are seeking re-election, my very best wishes for the days ahead. I will now have the opportunity to spend more time with family and friends, who have supported me throughout this incredible journey—throughout this privilege. Thank you all.

On that note, I close session 6 of the Parliament. [Applause.]

Meeting closed at 16:58.