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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| MSPs elect new presiding officer | MSPs elect new presiding officer |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tory Alex Fergusson has been elected as the new presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament. | Tory Alex Fergusson has been elected as the new presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament. |
| The Galloway and Upper Nithsdale MSP saw off a last-minute challenge from Independent MSP Margo MacDonald. | |
| MSPs voted in a secret ballot to see in Mr Fergusson by 108 votes over Ms MacDonald, who received 20 votes. | |
| The Scottish Parliament will also be faced with the task of electing two of the MSPs to serve in the post of deputy presiding officer. | The Scottish Parliament will also be faced with the task of electing two of the MSPs to serve in the post of deputy presiding officer. |
| Mr Fergusson had earlier ruled himself out of the politically neutral position of presiding officer, but later said he could do the job while still serving his constituents. | Mr Fergusson had earlier ruled himself out of the politically neutral position of presiding officer, but later said he could do the job while still serving his constituents. |
| You have just elected a decent and honourable man to head this house George ReidFormer presiding officer | |
| He told parliament: "I will, like my predecessors, reluctantly suspend my party allegiance for as long as I serve in this office. | |
| He added: "Let us all remember that our electorate, the people of Scotland, want this new politics to work for them and we have a duty to deliver what the electorate expects." | |
| Speaking after the result of the ballot, Scottish party leaders paid tribute to Mr Fergusson. | |
| Holyrood's previous presiding officer George Reid said: "You have just elected a decent and honourable man to head this house." | |
| Mr Reid said his successor faced "the difficult trick" of sitting impartially on the fence "while keeping his ears pressed firmly to the ground." | |
| "He brings real qualities to that task, a farmer rooted in his native soil, experienced in shepherding his flock in all weathers," Mr Reid said. |