Tricia Marwick: Testing times ahead for all

HOLYROOD Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick has warned the SNP majority will put the parliament's "procedures to the test".

And the next five years will not be "easy or straightforward", she added in a speech to MSPs and the Queen at the official opening yesterday.

The Nationalists' landslide at the Scottish election last month has met with apprehension that they could act a "bulldozer" administration, pushing through all manner of legislation.

Ms Marwick's own appointment from the SNP ranks was among opposition concerns, as it was expected to be a Labour MSP's turn to become Presiding Officer.

Ms Marwick said: "In this session we have another first, the first single majority government, which will once again put our procedures to the test.

"But as before I know that the parliament will rise to the challenge."

Ms Marwick insisted Holyrood had a track record of "evolution and innovation".

"I will do all I can to ensure that this parliament lives up to the aspirations and expectations of the people of Scotland," she said.

"But no member of the Scottish Parliament should be under illusion that the next five years will be easy or straightforward.

"The people of Scotland are experiencing a time when their incomes and lifestyles have felt the full effects of the difficult economic period.

"And during the times ahead people will, quite rightly, look to this parliament for leadership. In this session, members will be asked to make some difficult decisions."

The ongoing spending cuts in the coming years will also be felt at Holyrood, she warned.

"We have to challenge ourselves as elected members to be ambitious and to be bold to demonstrate the spirit of innovation for which Scots are renowned and which will allow us to achieve more with fewer resources - just as households and businesses are doing across Scotland.

"We have the knowledge and experience and now we have an opportunity to reflect, as a mature parliamentary institution, on how we can find new ways of working.

"Doing more with less but still upholding our prime responsibilities as a parliament to legislate, to scrutinise and hold to account the government of the day and to represent the will of the people."

Ms Marwick is the fourth Holy- rood presiding officer, following in the footsteps of Liberal Democrat Lord Steel, Nationalist George Reid and Tory Alex Fergusson, who has returned to the back-benches as an MSP.

She added: "I will champion democracy in this fourth session of parliament to ensure our parliament is open in all it does, represents the voices of our citizens and is responsive and mature in its consideration of the issues facing us as a country.

"But I am one of 129 MSPs - the onus is on each and every one of us to make sure that this parliament works to meet the aspirations of the people of Scotland."