SNP backbencher Tricia Marwick takes post of presiding officer

Published on Wednesday 11 May 2011 16:36

SNP backbencher Tricia Marwick has been appointed to the post of presiding officer at the Scottish Parliament.

The Mid Fife and Glenrothes member was elected in a secret ballot after all 129 new MSPs were officially sworn in at Holyrood.

Ms Marwick, 57, takes over from Alex Fergusson, who returned to parliament as a Conservative MSP.

Ms Marwick received 73 votes in a final run-off against Labour's Hugh Henry, who got 55 votes. A first round eliminated SNP MSP Christine Grahame.

After the vote, Ms Marwick, who is the first female presiding officer in Holyrood, thanked her family for their support and her fellow MSPs for voting for her.

She described the outgoing presiding officer as "a class act and a difficult one to follow".

Ms Marwick added: "As presiding officer, I will be fair to all members and I will always act in the interest of the Scottish Parliament.

"I will do my very, very best. And now we have work to do."

Mr Fergusson said that having a presiding officer from the same party as the government will present "fresh challenges".

However, he added: "Having worked with Tricia Marwick on the corporate body over the past four years, I can testify to her ability to put the interests of this parliament before the interests of any party within it.

"The role of presiding officer is one which carries with it the cloak of great privilege, and even greater responsibility.

"It is one which I have worn to the best of my ability and I am now delighted to pass it on to my elected successor."

Ms Marwick is the fourth politician to take on the role. David Steel was the first presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, and was succeeded in 2003 by George Reid, before Mr Fergusson held the position from 2007.