SNP's Tricia Marwick reveals she turned down Royal honour

Former Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick declined an honour from the Queen.
Former Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick. Picture: Ian RutherfordFormer Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick. Picture: Ian Rutherford
Former Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Marwick, who was the first female Presiding Officer and has always opposed Royal honours, said she had declined an invitation from a senior Conservative to be put forward for an award.

The former SNP MSP said: “I understand that the UK government wished to ensure that the first female Presiding Officer was recognised in the Honours list. I declined.

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“I do not criticise those who accept an honour. That is a matter for each individual and I understand the great joy and pride it can bring.

“However, it is not for me. I  would be a hypocrite to now accept an honour when I have opposed the honours system all my life. Further, in recent years it has become devalued by some of those who have been recipients.

“I have had many meaningful honours in my life. To be one of the first MSPs when our Parliament was reconvened in 1999, to be elected as  MSP for my home constituency of Central Fife and then to serve  as the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. That is recognition and honour enough. I have no need for further rewards or honours.”

Her predecessor Alex Fergusson, who retired as a Conservative MSP at the end of the last term, has been given a knighthood for services to politics, the Scottish parliamentary process and public life.