Confusion reigns as Goldie rules herself out of Presiding Officer role

Published on Sunday 6 May 2007 02:55

TORY leader Annabel Goldie has ruled herself out of becoming the next Presiding Officer at Holyrood.

Her decision has left widespread confusion about who might take over from George Reid when MSPs vote on the matter on Wednesday. The new 'speaker' must be in place before a government can be formed.

Goldie had been tipped by many to resign as leader of the Conservatives to undertake the role, as the previous favourite, former deputy presiding officer Murray Tosh, failed to secure re-election as a Tory MSP on Thursday.

It is understood that Reid has privately urged Goldie to go for the job, and her firm manner and background as a lawyer would appear to make her a strong candidate.

The make-up of the new parliament would also favour a senior Tory in the role, but a party spokesman said yesterday that it was "100% sure" that Goldie would instead remain as party leader.

Conservative sources said Goldie wanted to build on a successful election campaign. "She doesn't want to pack it in just when she's beginning to enjoy it," said one MSP.

The incredibly tight election result means it may now be difficult to find an alternative candidate to be Presiding Officer, and pressure will be applied to Goldie in an attempt to get her to change her mind.

The Presiding Officer frames the timetable for business in the Scottish Parliament, including choosing who gets to question the First Minister at Question Time. The Presiding Officer also controls behaviour in the debating chamber and has the power to discipline MSPs who step out of line.

It is a highly prestigious post, previously held by senior parliamentarians Reid, originally an SNP MSP, and Sir David Steel, the former Lib Dem leader.

The main problem with filling the role this time around is that whoever takes it on will lose their vote on the floor of the Scottish Parliament. That is a sacrifice none of the major parties who are in contention for a role in government are willing to make.

The other current deputy presiding officer, Labour MSP Trish Godman, is seen as an ideal candidate by many and it is said to be 'Labour's turn' after SNP and Lib Dem holders of the office. However, the Labour party is desperate not to hand a further advantage to the SNP after it clinched a one-seat lead in Thursday's poll.

Liberal Democrat MSP Ross Finnie, who was rural affairs minister in the last government, is also being suggested as a contender. But, once again, the Lib Dems need to keep their numbers up - either to help them form a workable coalition government with the SNP or Labour, or in opposition. There have been alternative suggestions that Green leader Robin Harper could be lined up for the job. He is another senior figure who would be viewed as a genuine independent voice if he took on the chair.

However, such a move would halve his party's vote in Holyrood at a time when the two Green MSPs could have a great deal of influence in a series of important counts.

One suggestion that has been laughed off by Labour chiefs is that the defeated Jack McConnell might be interested in another big job if he cannot retain the title of First Minister. With Labour still hoping to form a government, the Presiding Officer's post will be filled before any resignation by the Scottish Labour leader.