Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 23 March 2021
23 Mar 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Motion of No Confidence
I will not. When political commentaries are written these days, it is often said that politicians have sunk low in people’s esteem; that there is a diminished level of integrity in politics and therefore a diminished level of trust between the voter and the body politic. I agree with that, and for me that is what has happened in this case, which is symptomatic of the problem.
At times, there has been a complete disregard for the will of Parliament. How many times in recent months have we seen the Scottish Government completely ignore the outcome of votes in the chamber? We have seen a Government that is determined to override the democratic process, believing that it knows better than Parliament. That is indeed the main difference that I see in my 14 years in Holyrood—Government is now dominant over Parliament rather than the other way around, which is not healthy for democracy—[Interruption.]
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-24292, in the name of Ruth Davidson, on a motion of no confidence. Members should note that I will put th...
Ruth Davidson (Edinburgh Central) (Con)
Con
We are here today because a former First Minister was accused of sexually harassing members of staff in a Government that he was there not only to lead but t...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Order.
Ruth Davidson
Con
They are the members who are sitting behind the First Minister and who are now catcalling from a sedentary position. Interruption.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Order, please.
Ruth Davidson
Con
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The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon)
SNP
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Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
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Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
Scottish politics today does not look pretty, with talk of lynching and assassination; the leaking of the private evidence of complainants; the lodging of mo...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
This situation began with an extremely serious issue: the mishandling of an investigation into sexual harassment allegations. I honestly wish that everyone’s...
Dr Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
James Hamilton’s independent investigation has finally reported. It has unambiguously cleared the First Minister of all charges that she breached the ministe...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I am proud to have been a member of the Scottish Parliament since its inception, just like the Presiding Officer and the First Minister—a member of the class...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney)
SNP
It is my privilege to close the debate for the Government, and to encourage Parliament to reject this baseless motion from the Conservatives. At the heart of...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Tomorrow, every seat in the Parliament becomes vacant again. All business in the chamber comes to an end, after which we await the verdict of the voters on 6...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Order, please.
John Swinney
SNP
Will the member give way?
Liz Smith
Con
I will not. When political commentaries are written these days, it is often said that politicians have sunk low in people’s esteem; that there is a diminishe...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Please, Mr Swinney.
Liz Smith
Con
If Mr Swinney is going to make comments, I would be grateful if he could just listen to the next point. I hope that the First Minister will reflect on the f...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
That concludes the debate on a motion of no confidence, and we will go straight to the vote. The question is, that motion S5M-24292, in the name of Ruth Dav...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division. We will suspend for five minutes to allow members in both the chamber and the virtual chamber to access the voting app. 16:02 Meet...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We are back in session and we will move straight to the vote. The question is, that motion S5M-24292, in the name of Ruth Davidson, on a motion of no confid...
Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to access the app. I would have voted no.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, Mr Paterson. Your vote will be added to the vote roll. For Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Ballantyne, Michelle (South Scotland) (Reform) Bowm...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The result of the division on motion S5M-24292, in the name of Ruth Davidson, on a motion of no confidence, is: For 31, Against 65, Abstentions 27. Motion d...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We will move to the next item of business. I remind all members who need to leave the chamber at this stage to follow the one-way systems, to wear their mask...