We’ve been having a bit of a chat in the Better Nation team about the possible contenders for Presiding Officer. It is a pivotal post, the public face of the Parliament, and it really does matter who gets to sit in the big chair at the head of the Chamber. So we thought we’d post our thoughts – or at least Malc and the Burd did.
First up Malc’s views:
Thinking about the role of the Presiding Officer (PO), obviously there are no hard and fast rules here. Its a non-whipped secret vote and candidates are on their own in seeking support. Historically, we’ve had a Lib Dem PO (with SNP & Lab DPOs) in 1999, an SNP PO (with Tory & Lab DPOs in 2003) and a Tory PO (with SNP & Lab DPOs) in 2007.  Contrast this with Wales, where Plaid peer Lord Daffyd
Elis-Thomas has held the PO’s seat since 1999.
Historically then, three of the “big four” (can we still include the Lib Dems as a “big party”?) have held the chair – so I suspect that it probably should be Labour’s “turn” to provide the PO. However, they were burned pretty badly on Thursday, and lost a lot of experience from their benches, replacing some of the class of 1999 with new list members. There may then be some reluctance to give up an experienced MSP to the PO’s chair, preferring to keep their experience to help some of their new intake get used to the new job.
That said, I think they have a really strong candidate for PO in Patricia Ferguson. She’s experienced – she’s been in Parliament since 1999. She has experience of the PO’s job, having served as DPO in the first parliamentary session. And, perhaps just as importantly – she would be the first woman to take the job. I think she’d do it well and do it fairly, which is pretty much all I’m looking for in a PO.
I’ve heard a couple of other names mentioned in connection with the job. Tavish Scott has apparently been touting himself (though with a party of 5 at Holyrood, that’s surely unlikely). Roseanna Cunningham has been touted by some Nats – and with a majority, it may well the easiest thing for the PO to come from them. It also may help smooth over some of the legal issues with the referendum bill… but I’m sure that thought hasn’t crossed their minds!
I’ll leave my contribution there. Any other ideas?
#1 by Gryff on May 8, 2011 - 8:10 am
Surely obvious candidate from SNP is Christine grahame, experience on Health commitee, legal background, and well known?
#2 by Gregor on May 8, 2011 - 9:01 am
I want Malcolm Chisholm; I think he’d be the fairest.
This obviously depends on just how much the Labour party change – if they sort out their act then obviously he might be happier there hehe.
#3 by Andrea on May 8, 2011 - 9:13 am
Hugh Henry or Malcolm Chisholm?
#4 by RedTorpedo on May 8, 2011 - 11:10 am
I must confess Patricia Graham does not ring any bells of recognition for me but maybe then that’s a good thing.
I think I’d rather have Malcolm Chisholm where he is
#5 by cynicalHighlander on May 8, 2011 - 12:01 pm
Labour or any of the other parties can’t afford to diminish their team by having a PO. I would have thought that a SNP member the best for Holyrood all round but which one, pass.
#6 by cynicalHighlander on May 8, 2011 - 12:03 pm
Edit “can” to “can’t”
#7 by Welshguy on May 8, 2011 - 12:09 pm
Dafydd Elis-Thomas’s situation is a bit unusual, though. He tends to meddle in Plaid’s frontbench decisions (he led the party in the past) so constantly electing him as PO suits Plaid, as it has allowed them to keep him out of the way without marginalising or offending him. The Welsh Assembly is such a small legislature that none of the parties really want to lose a voting voice, so the others have continually supported the decision to keep him in place. Whether he will stay as PO now Plaid have shrunk to their lowest ever remains to be seen; (certainly it would suit Labour, making it easy for them to govern) however I would be entirely unsurprised if he were given another five years on the job.
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#8 by Charles on May 9, 2011 - 12:23 am
Richard Simpson. He’s the only medically qualified msp and has the gravitas to hold down the position.
#9 by Gregor on May 9, 2011 - 9:52 am
What has being medically qualified got to do with the position of Presiding Officer? :-/
I’m sure the SPCB have enough First Aiders!