Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 03 February 2026 [Draft]
03 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Desecration of War Memorials (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I wish to raise an issue in relation to rule 9.6.4 of standing orders, which states that,
“Once the lead committee has reported on the Bill, the Parliament shall consider the general principles of the Bill”,
and also in respect of the parts of standing orders that define the role of the Presiding Officer in determining any question as to the interpretation or application of standing orders. I have been in Parliament for a while now, and I do not recall us ever being in a situation where a bill is taken through the entire stage 1 process and is then withdrawn at the very last minute, when members are expecting to take the debate forward. The last thing that I want is to waste more time than the time that has already been wasted by the member who has brought the bill through the process—
Members: “Wasted”?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20628, in the name of Meghan Gallacher, on the Desecration of War Memorials (Scotland) Bill, at stage 1. ...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I begin by thanking everyone who supported the development of my member’s bill, particularly the staff of the non-Government bills unit for their exceptional...
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson)
SNP
rose—
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
I ask you to resume your seat for a second, Ms Gallacher. I have a point of order from the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, ...
Angus Robertson
SNP
Sorry—I was actually seeking to make an intervention on Meghan Gallacher, if she will allow that at this stage.I commend Meghan Gallacher for pursuing this i...
Meghan Gallacher
Con
I welcome that intervention from the cabinet secretary, and I agree. I am glad that we are having this discussion in the chamber today, where we are able to ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Thank you, Ms Gallacher. It is now time to move on to the next item of business.
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I wish to raise an issue in relation to rule 9.6.4 of standing orders, which states that,“Once the lead committee has...
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
What a disgrace!
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Members.
Patrick Harvie
Green
—but I have been—Interruption.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Please resume your seat, Mr Harvie.Members, we will listen to the member who has the floor. That is Mr Harvie and not any member that I am currently looking ...
Patrick Harvie
Green
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am a member of what has been the lead committee on the bill. My time, the time of my staff, the time of other members and the...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
What about the greyhounds?
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Members.
Patrick Harvie
Green
—but in preparing for a debate that we expected to take place today and which is clearly not necessary. Even the member in charge now admits that the whole b...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Members! Mr Harvie, will you please get to the point?
Patrick Harvie
Green
In relation to the two parts of standing orders that I have raised, I ask whether the Presiding Officer is willing to begin a discussion with the Standards, ...
Meghan Gallacher
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
I will respond to Mr Harvie, obviously, before I take another point of order. That is the normal process.I thank Mr Harvie for advance notice of his point of...
Meghan Gallacher
Con
I seek your guidance, Presiding Officer, because that was a disgusting and disgraceful intervention by Patrick Harvie. I have not wasted the Parliament’s tim...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Ms Gallacher, will you please get to the point of order?
Meghan Gallacher
Con
I will come to the point that I am trying to make. I have consulted the Presiding Officer’s office, I have been in contact with the Cabinet Secretary for Con...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The matter was on the business bulletin and was called, and I think that that sets forth the position. The other points that Meghan Gallacher raised do not a...