Climate will top agenda for new presiding officer

The Scottish Parliament’s newlyelected presiding officer for the next five years, Alison Johnstone, has put the climate emergency at the top of Holyrood’s agenda.

Ms Johnstone was elected as a Green MSP last week and was put in the chair yesterday by parliamentary colleagues.

Ms Johnstone made it clear that the environment and inequality should be a priority for the new intake of MSPS.

Scotland hosts the global COP26 summit in Glasgow this November, which is seen as a major opportunity to get developed countries to take a greater lead in reversing environmental damage.

Elected unopposed, Ms Johnstone told MSPS: “There are challenges ahead. We are, of course, in the midst of the nature and climate emergency, as well as the pandemic.

“We have to tackle them. Our young people have done such a fabulous job bringing this issue to life. They’ve helped ensure that we adults debate it properly on their behalf.

“We only have a few years to act and I think it’s really important that Scotland makes the most of the opportunity COP26 will provide.”

Ms Johnstone, who now loses her party affiliation, was elected by 97 votes to 28 to oversee parliamentary debates and represent MSPS. She replaces Ken Macintosh.

A Lothian MSP, Ms Johnstone said she was part of the campaign for a Scottish Parliament in the late 1990s, before joining the Greens.

She got a job with Robin Harper, the UK’S first Green parliamentarian, who became an MSP in 1999.

She is a qualified athletics coach and previously held the East of Scotland titles for the 800m and 1500m.

Among her earlier campaigns as an MSP were Fans First, a push for fan ownership of football clubs.

She also proposed a ban on fracking and campaigned against benefits sanctions in devolved employment schemes.

She became co-leader of the Scottish Greens’ in 2019 but has now been replaced by Lorna Slater.

“Here I have been afforded a great opportunity and an incredible privilege and one I will never, ever take for granted,” she said.

“We only have a few years to act

IN CHARGE: Alison Johnstone will give up her party affiliation after being elected as Holyrood’s new presiding officer.