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| MSPs to elect presiding officer | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Tory Alex Fergusson is the front runner to be elected as the new presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament. | Tory Alex Fergusson is the front runner to be elected as the new presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament. |
| The MSP for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale is so far the only declared candidate, but Independent Margo MacDonald may challenge him. | The MSP for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale is so far the only declared candidate, but Independent Margo MacDonald may challenge him. |
| Mr Fergusson had ruled himself out, but later said he could do the job while still serving his constituents. He also received numerous requests to stand. | Mr Fergusson had ruled himself out, but later said he could do the job while still serving his constituents. He also received numerous requests to stand. |
| MSPs will decide on the successor to George Reid in a secret ballot. | MSPs will decide on the successor to George Reid in a secret ballot. |
| The decision on a new presiding officer was delayed after the parties said they needed more time to consider candidates, following the election result which saw the SNP become the largest party by only one seat. | The decision on a new presiding officer was delayed after the parties said they needed more time to consider candidates, following the election result which saw the SNP become the largest party by only one seat. |
| Mr Fergusson said that, if elected, he had no doubt he could carry out the job in the impartial and fair manner demanded by parliament. | Mr Fergusson said that, if elected, he had no doubt he could carry out the job in the impartial and fair manner demanded by parliament. |
| It's a very serious job Lord SteelFormer presiding officer | It's a very serious job Lord SteelFormer presiding officer |
| He told BBC Scotland he was prepared to put his party allegiances to one side, adding: "In the first parliament I was convener of the rural development committee at a time when there was a lot of legislation being dealt with, with which I profoundly disagreed. | |
| "I don't think anybody on that committee will tell you anything other than I proved to be a completely impartial and fair convener." | "I don't think anybody on that committee will tell you anything other than I proved to be a completely impartial and fair convener." |
| But that does not mean Mr Fergusson would necessarily quit the Conservative Party or the Tory group at Holyrood. | But that does not mean Mr Fergusson would necessarily quit the Conservative Party or the Tory group at Holyrood. |
| He said he would look at the rules and explore possible options. | He said he would look at the rules and explore possible options. |
| Margo MacDonald has not ruled out standing herself | Margo MacDonald has not ruled out standing herself |
| However, Ms MacDonald, who described Mr Fergusson as a "thoroughly decent man", said: "Whether or not he will be perceived to be absolutely neutral in the chair is another matter." | However, Ms MacDonald, who described Mr Fergusson as a "thoroughly decent man", said: "Whether or not he will be perceived to be absolutely neutral in the chair is another matter." |
| Ms MacDonald denied her disagreement with SNP leader Alex Salmond would cast doubt on her impartiality, should she end up in the presiding officer's chair, stating that it was all in the past. | Ms MacDonald denied her disagreement with SNP leader Alex Salmond would cast doubt on her impartiality, should she end up in the presiding officer's chair, stating that it was all in the past. |
| "We shouldn't have the potential conflict that might arise where the presiding officer, in a very tight, agitated parliament, can be accused of having a party affiliation," she added. | "We shouldn't have the potential conflict that might arise where the presiding officer, in a very tight, agitated parliament, can be accused of having a party affiliation," she added. |
| Holyrood's first presiding officer, Lord Steel of Aikwood, said the job went far beyond simply chairing the parliament. | Holyrood's first presiding officer, Lord Steel of Aikwood, said the job went far beyond simply chairing the parliament. |
| He said: "There's a lot behind the scenes. | He said: "There's a lot behind the scenes. |
| "The presiding officer has got to chair the corporate body, has got to chair the (parliamentary) bureau, has got to make decisions on whether each incoming bill is consistent with the Scotland Act and the European Convention. | "The presiding officer has got to chair the corporate body, has got to chair the (parliamentary) bureau, has got to make decisions on whether each incoming bill is consistent with the Scotland Act and the European Convention. |
| "Plus (there are) the outside duties which the presiding officer has to do - promoting the parliament in the country and overseas. | "Plus (there are) the outside duties which the presiding officer has to do - promoting the parliament in the country and overseas. |
| "It's a very serious job." | "It's a very serious job." |