大象传媒

bbc.co.uk Navigation

Scottish Parliament election

Election 07 graphic

X marks the spot

  • Brian Taylor
  • 15 May 07, 07:15 AM

After exhaustive balloting, we now have the deputies to Alex Fergusson as presiding officer at Holyrood.

They are Alasdair Morgan of the SNP and Trish Godman of Labour.

Unlike Mr Fergusson, they don't have to relinquish membership of their party groups.

PS: There were ironic laughs when George Reid explained the voting system for PO - "mark your ballot papers with an X and fold the paper".

Memories of election night chaos in the Holyrood ballot.

And, again reflecting back to that inglorious night, four MSPs contrived to spoil their papers in the election for deputy presiding officer.

That is not, by the way, a joke.

Comments   Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 12:56 PM on 15 May 2007,
  • Alistair McFadyen wrote:

I was wondering about this business of Presiding Officer. Obviously he/she has to be seen to be neutral, but how are his constituents' interests represented for the next 4 years? Isn't there a case for a non-elected presiding officer? Or perhaps only regional MSP's should be eligible, as there will be others sitting around capable of representing the interests of the peeps?

  • 2.
  • At 01:19 PM on 15 May 2007,
  • SALMONDFISHING wrote:

The whole place, and its MSP are a JOKE.

What a shower of numpties and a TOTAL waste of our money - will they claim for new pens after marking their ballot papers?????? - tell us who has bought more flats from their expenses instead of giving us drivel everyday.

  • 3.
  • At 07:00 PM on 15 May 2007,
  • derek barker wrote:

Is it for real?that! must rank along-side the old application joke "SEX" "YES!PLEASE" It might not be a colourful parliament,but it is sure to be an intertaining one, it might even surpass the "X-FACTOR" or the "X-FILE'S"

  • 4.
  • At 10:59 PM on 15 May 2007,
  • Voter wrote:

Are you able to disclose the names of the MSPs who failed to vote correctly for the post of Deputy Presiding Officer,thus depriving their constituents of a say in the selection procedure, or is a request under the Freedom of Information Act required

  • 5.
  • At 04:20 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Skip wrote:


I believe the presiding officer election was a secret ballot.

Perhaps some of the critics would realise that people often spoil their paper deliberately. In matters of conscience they might wish to make a point by writing a slogan. If they cannot for some reason find themselves drawn to vote for either of the candidates they might wish to abstain. If they can't choose between two really good candidates & good colleagues, they might put the cross in the box for both of them.

  • 6.
  • At 04:36 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Curious wrote:

I hope I am wrong but one begins to wonder whether some of our MSPs are so stupid they cannot carry out simple instructions: if so how very worrying.

  • 7.
  • At 06:49 AM on 17 May 2007,
  • fredecon wrote:

I wonder when Mr Salmond will tell the people of Scotland that there will be no vote on the referendum this session ??

  • 8.
  • At 09:31 AM on 17 May 2007,
  • fredecon wrote:

I wonder when Mr Salmond will tell the people of Scotland that there will be no vote on the referendum this session ??

  • 9.
  • At 11:27 PM on 19 May 2007,
  • Alex Walker wrote:

Hi Brian enjoy following you on TV and just love your articles.
How did your enjoy your visit to Tunisia was it last year or the year before, wasnt it a brilliant hotel?
Regards
AW

Post a comment

Please note Name and E-mail are required.

Comments are moderated, and will not appear on this weblog until the author has approved them.

Required
Required (not displayed)
 
    

The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

大象传媒.co.uk