Meeting of the Parliament 24 March 2026 [Draft]
As this will be my last speech in the Parliament, I hope that the minister will excuse me if I touch only briefly on the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill. It is nothing like what we were promised in 2016. I agree with the minister that crofting needs a simpler future to secure our heritage, our rural population and our national language. Like him, I hope that the bill is just an appetiser and a step towards a future bill. I am sure that he and many other members of the Parliament will be pleased that I will not be here to lodge one or two amendments—if I were here, he could guarantee that I would do so.
I will take some time to offer some comments on my experiences, having had the privilege of being a member of the Highlands and Islands MSP group for the past 10 years. I have found the formulaic nature of the Parliament to be quite difficult and stifling. Everything that we do follows procedures and timings. For me, four-minute speeches kill debate and prove only that the person who is giving the speech can read. Pre-supplied questions to the Government demonstrate the power of good briefings as well as good reading skills.
The never-ending creep of partisan party control is also deeply unhelpful. We should all resent parties choosing who gets supplementary questions and who gets to speak in debates. I wish that the Presiding Officer could make those decisions and call on the person who has the knowledge and the experience.
I strongly believe that we need less party dominance and more individuality. We need to put party politics to one side, because we must remember that we all came here for one reason, which is to make Scotland a better place. Therefore, we have no differences except in the way that we deliver a better Scotland. I wish that we could work more across the Parliament to make that happen.
I have found convening committees in the Parliament for nearly 10 years to be interesting. I absolutely respect the committee system, but it is truly broken. All but a few of the committees have Government majorities that can be whipped to get legislation through. That is not suitable, and it is the root cause of framework and bad legislation. I wish that we could find a way to make committees work more as a revising chamber than they do at the moment.
The other thing that has frustrated me and, I think, many people across Scotland is the constant deflections that we hear. There are cries of, “If only we had the tools and the levers of power that we need.” I gently remind politicians in this Parliament that it is about what is possible, and much is possible in this Parliament. Scotland wants and expects us to make things happen. By all means campaign for more powers—I accept that—but, when it comes to delivery, we should remember the old French proverb that it is bad workmen who blame their tools.
I would like to give three pieces of advice to those who will come here in the next session of Parliament. The first is to be kind. Members should remember that, when they come to work in this building, their job is important and they are less so. They should spare a thought for the 1,700 people who make this place work. Do not ignore them. It is they who make it possible for members to do what they do on a daily basis.
Secondly, make friends across the chamber. I have tried to do that, and it has delivered for me.
Thirdly, focus on one issue. My issue found me. Indeed, campaigning for better health outcomes across the Highlands will not leave me when I leave here.
Presiding Officer, I would like to thank you for your indulgence and that of members. I wish everyone leaving here success. I give my team and my family my heartfelt gratitude for their support. For those who are elected in May, I wish them luck. Making Scotland and all of our lives better is really important. Remember that we who are leaving will be watching.