Meeting of the Parliament 01 May 2024
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I seek clarification on an email circulated from the chief executive’s office to all members of the Scottish Parliament in relation to the protest camp that is currently taking place outside the Parliament building.
I understand entirely that, if an MSP or a member of staff were to take part in camping outside the building, we or they would, indeed, have breached the policy. However, I have been contacted by a number of staff and by other MSPs because there is some ambiguity about the message that has been sent to us, and some have been left under the impression that any engagement at all with those taking part in the protest, such as simply speaking to them on the way in or out of this building, would also be in breach of that policy. Can the Presiding Officer offer reassurance to MSPs and staff that simply by speaking to those who are protesting outside we would not have breached the Parliament’s protest policy?