Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

Good afternoon. The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-24165, in the name of Michael Russell, on “Doing Politics Differently: The Report of the ...

The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs (Michael Russell) SNP

I am pleased to open the debate, and will do so with the words of one of the members of the Citizens Assembly of Scotland, which was a place where more than ...

Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

The report of the Citizens Assembly of Scotland is a welcome and important contribution to political dialogue in Scotland. I, too, thank the 105 members acro...

Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

“Doing Politics Differently” is the headline of the report, and I think that we must all ask ourselves whether we are serious about doing politics differentl...

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green

Politics is not supposed to be a spectator sport; it is supposed to be about broadening participation and bringing more perspectives to bear in our political...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

Like other members, I add my thanks to the participants in the citizens assembly—the people whose names came of out the hat to serve on it, the people who or...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We now move to the open debate, and we have some time in hand. Although speeches should be six minutes, a bit of leeway is available, including for anyone wh...

Shona Robison (Dundee City East) (SNP) SNP

I am sorry, Presiding Officer; I was caught slightly unawares there. My apologies for that.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

That is all right.

Shona Robison SNP

I should have paid more attention to where I was in the speaking order. I thank the members of the assembly and all those involved throughout the process fo...

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I join other members in welcoming the work of those who participated in the work of the citizens assembly and in thanking them for their efforts during what ...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

It would have been good to have had this debate in the chamber with interventions. I would be happy to take an intervention, although I realise that the syst...

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to contribute to the debate. Scotland’s first citizens assembly—in its first report—is rich in ideas and full of ambition and energy, and this s...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Bob Doris is the last speaker in the open debate. 16:10

Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) SNP

As others have done, I thank the 100 Scottish citizens in our Citizens Assembly of Scotland, who came together to consider how to find a consensus on the fut...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to closing speeches. 16:16

Patrick Harvie Green

I am pleased to have had the chance to take part in the debate and that, broadly, it has been consensual. Several members have referred to the fact that, in ...

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

Alex Rowley will close for Labour. 16:23

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to be closing for Labour in the debate on “Doing Politics Differently: The Report of the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland”. I offer our thanks to ...

Adam Tomkins (Glasgow) (Con) Con

I do not have a long time left in this Parliament and I want to use my remarks this afternoon to reflect on the state of our politics. I hope that I will not...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I call the cabinet secretary to conclude the debate. 16:37

Michael Russell SNP

I want to make one point about what we have just heard because I do not want to allow the debate to descend into the place where, regrettably, Adam Tomkins h...

The Presiding Officer NPA

That concludes our debate on the report of the citizens assembly. We are actually ahead of time, so I am minded to accept a motion without notice under rule ...