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MSPs to be sworn in at Holyrood New members sworn in at Holyrood
(1 day later)
Newly elected MSPs are to be officially sworn into office at the Scottish Parliament after taking an oath of allegiance to the Queen. Newly elected MSPs have been officially sworn into office at the Scottish Parliament after pledging allegiance to the Queen.
All 129 members elected in last week's ballot are expected to take the oath before being able to start work. SNP leader Alex Salmond, who is expected to be Scotland's next first minister, was the first up.
They will then agree to adjourn the first meeting of the parliament until Monday 14 May, when a new presiding officer should be elected. He claimed his party's "primary loyalty" was to the Scottish people.
Independent MSP Margo MacDonald is likely to be nominated for the post. The 129 members also agreed to adjourn the first meeting of the parliament until Monday 14 May, when a new presiding officer should be elected.
The oath of allegiance will be given at Holyrood in front of outgoing Presiding Officer George Reid at 0930 BST on Wednesday. Independent MSP Margo MacDonald has expressed an interest in the post.
It has been agreed that parliament will vote on a motion to adjourn the first meeting until next Monday George ReidPresiding Officer The MSPs took either the oath of allegiance or made a non-religious affirmation during the ceremony in the Holyrood chamber, in front of outgoing presiding officer George Reid.
Those taking the oath are asked to repeat the words: "I (Member's Name), do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Her Heirs and Successors, according to Law. So help me God." I do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Her Heirs and Successors, according to Law. So help me God MSP oath
Members are also given the option of taking an affirmation instead of the oath, in which they state: "I (Member's Name), do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Her Heirs and Successors, according to Law." The party leaders were called first, starting with Mr Salmond, whose party is the largest in Holyrood.
Several MSPs took the oath under protest after the last Scottish Parliament elections in 2003. Before taking the oath, he said: "The Scottish National Party's primary loyalty is with the people of Scotland, in line with the Scottish constitutional tradition of the sovereignty of the people."
Among them was then-Scottish Socialist party MSP Colin Fox, who sang Robert Burns' egalitarian "A Man's A Man for A' That" before being ordered to move to the end of the queue. Mr Salmond was followed by current first minister Jack McConnell, Scots Tory leader Annabel Goldie, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen and Scottish Green co-leader Robin Harper.
Nomination day The remainder of members were called in alphabetical order.
Once all members have been sworn in, a motion to adjourn the first meeting of parliament until next week is expected to be made and passed. class="bodl" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6302&edition=1">Have your say: What do you think of the elections?
Mr Reid said: "After discussion with the main parties it has been agreed that parliament will vote on a motion to adjourn the first meeting until next Monday afternoon. Brian Adam, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen North, made his affirmation in Scots, while the first Asian MSP, Bashir Ahmad, made his in Urdu.
"Given the election result, it is right that members have enough time to consider nominations for prospective candidates." Several also took their oath in Gaelic.
Members will then be able to submit nominations for presiding officer to the Parliamentary Business Team in the Scottish Parliament between the hours of 1300 BST and 1445 BST on Monday. Those taking the oath were asked to repeat the words: "I (Member's Name), do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Her Heirs and Successors, according to Law. So help me God."
The election will start at 1500 BST, with Mr Reid taking the chair and announcing the nominations. Two deputy presiding officers will also be elected. Members were also given the option of taking an affirmation instead of the oath, in which they stated: "I (Member's Name), do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Her Heirs and Successors, according to Law."
A number of MSPs swore in under protest, including Nationalist Roseanna Cunningham.