Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 December 2023
21 Dec 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scottish Land Commission (Appointment of Chair and Commissioners)
It is regrettable that the committee was unable to come to a unanimous decision on the issue. Perhaps the fact that the vote was split along party lines tells us a lot about the situation that we are in. We should make no mistake—this is a political appointment from an increasingly desperate devolved Government.
Let us look at how the appointment was announced. On 1 December, we heard that Mike Russell had stepped down from his role as president of the SNP. The SNP spin machine swung into action, and, a couple of hours later, an SNP press release told us that he was taking up the role of chair of the Scottish Land Commission, no doubt to quell rumours about why he was leaving. That showed no respect for process and no respect for this Parliament. That is what the SNP had decided and there was no thought at all of respect for the other candidates. It was simply a matter of jobs for the boys. [Interruption.]
The job profile calls for someone with integrity and someone who can be an ambassador—[Interruption.]
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is consideration of motion S6M-11733, in the name of Mairi Gougeon, on the appointment of the chair and commissioners of the Scotti...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands (Mairi Gougeon)
SNP
In line with the requirements of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, the Scottish Land Commission is one of a small number of public bodies for which minist...
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
Members!
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. In accordance with section 11(4) of the 2016 act, a statement was laid in Parliament on 29 November explaining how Scottish mi...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Corrupt! Members: Oh!
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Cabinet secretary, please take your seat for a moment. I am hearing shouting and commenting, and it is simply not going to continue. Members will be well awa...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. The commentary there was entirely unacceptable. Mr Stephen Kerr shouted out the word “corrupt”. I do not know whether...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I point out the need for all members to conduct themselves at all times in a courteous and respectful manner.
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
For Scottish Land Commission appointments, we also have a parliamentary scrutiny process that is underpinned by statute that was put into effect by the Scott...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Douglas Lumsden to speak to and move amendment S6M-11733.1. 13:16
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
It is regrettable that the committee was unable to come to a unanimous decision on the issue. Perhaps the fact that the vote was split along party lines tell...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, members.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
—yet Mike Russell has continuously made disparaging comments in the media about people in public life, describing a well-respected female MP as having a tant...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Members!
Douglas Lumsden
Con
His blatant lack of respect for democratically elected individuals, use of derogatory language and nasty comments about others on social media should have be...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I will start with a quote from the opening paragraph of the Scottish Government’s webpage on the Open Government Partnership. “As members of the Open Govern...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
I am relatively new to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, so my role was to content myself that the process, which previous members of the committ...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
First, I thank Kevin Stewart for making his point of order and putting in the Official Report the comment that I made from a sedentary position, which was th...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
SNP
Is Mr Kerr being mindful of the fact that the process for the public appointment that we are considering today is the same as the process for every other pub...
Stephen Kerr
Con
I am questioning the suitability of the former president of the SNP and the former interim chief executive officer of the SNP as an appropriate person to hol...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Members!
Stephen Kerr
Con
On top of that, there is the stench of cronyism and deep cynicism from the SNP putting forward that name at this moment—in the very last moments of the very ...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Mr Kerr has just said that Mr Russell has gone “beyond ... robust political debate”—a situation of a pot calling a kettle black. Presiding Officer, it is up ...
Stephen Kerr
Con
I am not sure whether that was an intervention or a point of order.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I reassure Mr Stewart that I will intervene as and when I think that it is appropriate.
Stephen Kerr
Con
I believe in robust political exchanges and debate, and I would never deny that. However, when it comes to personally attacking or abusing political opponent...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Mr Kerr, conclude your remarks. Thank you.
Stephen Kerr
Con
It is wholly unacceptable for someone who has used political debate for personal abuse and to attack people on a personal basis, and who has described those ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You must conclude.
Stephen Kerr
Con
It is deeply cynical of the Government to even suggest that, and Scotland can see it.