Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2026 [Draft]
I start by paying tribute to both Deputy Presiding Officers, and I echo the words that have been said about you. In particular, I say to Annabelle Ewing, what a loss you will be to the chamber—I wish you well with whatever comes next.
There is a poignancy about today. I think about the giants of Scottish politics lost to us not just from this parliamentary session but from parliamentary sessions that have gone before, whether that is Jeane Freeman or our beloved Jim Wallace, but I particularly echo the remarks that have been made about Christina McKelvie, who was always a good friend to me and a wonderful centre of light and warmth at the heart of our chamber. They will all be missed.
There are too many outgoing MSPs to mention by name, but I will mention Beatrice Wishart, my chum from the northern isles, who has been a passionate advocate for Shetland and has kept me right on a thing or two.
I thank all those who are leaving Parliament and their staff. Let us remember that our careers as parliamentarians are built on the backs of staffers who have bigger brains but smaller pay packets than we do. We owe so much to them for our success, so I thank them.
I also thank the Parliament staff. There are too many branches and directorates to mention, but I thank the cooks, the caterers, the posties, the porters, business information technology, payroll and pensions, human resources and all the clerks for all that they do.
My thanks go in particular to broadcasting. I thank especially—he has given me permission to do this—my lovely younger brother, Nick Cole-Hamilton, who is in the booth today. Nick has, in effect, held the broadcasting sword of Damocles over me for much of my parliamentary career, with the power to mute my microphone, and I love him all the more that he has never exercised that power—
Members: Do it now! [Laughter.]