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Motion

Appointments of the Chair and Commissioners of the Scottish Land Commission

S6M-11733.1 · Amendment · lodged by Lumsden, Douglas

Lodged on
20 Dec 2023
Heard / answered on
21 Dec 2023

Watch the chamber session on SPTV · lands on the meetings recorded on 21 Dec 2023

As an amendment to motion S6M-11733 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (Appointments of the Chair and Commissioners of the Scottish Land Commission), leave out from "recommendation" to end and insert "unanimous recommendation that the Parliament approves the appointment of Professor Deborah Roberts and Craig Mackenzie as Land Commissioners to the Scottish Land Commission; recognises the widespread concerns expressed regarding the recommended appointment of Michael Russell; highlights that Michael Russell’s appointment was not approved unanimously by the Committee because it had not had the opportunity to take evidence from him regarding any potential conflicts of interest that would arise from him having recently been an MSP, president of the Scottish National Party, interim chief executive of the Scottish National Party, and a Scottish Minister; understands that Michael Russell has made a number of inflammatory comments in the past about opposition politicians and parties, as well as about land reform, and therefore questions his ability to be impartial, and approves the appointments of Professor Deborah Roberts and Craig Mackenzie as required by section 10 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, but, in the interests of protecting the reputation of the Scottish Land Commission, does not approve the appointment of Michael Russell until such time as the Committee has undertaken further scrutiny."
Lodged by Lumsden, Douglas alone — no additional MSPs have signed on.
Amendment division result
21 Dec 2023
Defeated Show MSPs
For
52
Against
64
Abstain
1
Not voted
12
In the Official Report

Debated in chamber — 5 contributions reference this

  • The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber · 21 Dec 2023 · Meeting of the Parliament 21 December 2023
    I call Douglas Lumsden to speak to and move amendment S6M-11733.1. 13:16
  • Douglas Lumsden Con Chamber · 21 Dec 2023 · Meeting of the Parliament 21 December 2023
    His blatant lack of respect for democratically elected individuals, use of derogatory language and nasty comments about others on social media should have been investigated by the recruitment panel. …
  • The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) NPA Chamber · 21 Dec 2023 · Meeting of the Parliament 21 December 2023
    There are two questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that amendment S6M-11733.1, in the name of Douglas Lumsden, which seeks to amend motion S6M-11733, in the nam…
  • The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber · 21 Dec 2023 · Meeting of the Parliament 21 December 2023
    We move to the division on amendment S6M-11733.1, in the name of Douglas Lumsden. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is closed.
  • The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber · 21 Dec 2023 · Meeting of the Parliament 21 December 2023
    The result of the division on amendment S6M-11733.1, in the name of Douglas Lumsden, is: For 52, Against 64, Abstentions 1. Amendment disagreed to.

Amendments and how the chamber decided

  1. Original motion
    S6M-11733
    19 Dec 2023 · Motion For Debate · Gougeon, Mairi
    That the Parliament notes the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee's 21st Report, 2023 (Session 6), Report on appointments to the Scottish Land Commission (SP Paper 499); welcomes the Committee’s recommendation that the Parliament approves the appointment of Professor Michael Russell, Professor Deborah Roberts and Craig Mackenzie as Land Commiss...
  2. Selected item
    Defeated 52/64
    S6M-11733.1
    20 Dec 2023 · Amendment · Lumsden, Douglas
    As an amendment to motion S6M-11733 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (Appointments of the Chair and Commissioners of the Scottish Land Commission), leave out from "recommendation" to end and insert "unanimous recommendation that the Parliament approves the appointment of Professor Deborah Roberts and Craig Mackenzie as Land Commissioners to the Scottish Land ...