It’s last orders for Presiding Officer
Holyrood ‘Speaker’ to stand down at next election
PRESIDING Officer Ken Macintosh has announced he is to leave the Scottish parliament at next year’s election, after more than two decades as an MSP.
Mr Macintosh said that ‘after much reflection’ he had decided not to stand again.
He said it had been an ‘honour’ to have been an MSP since the devolved parliament was established in 1999 – adding that the institution had ‘grown in confidence and maturity’.
But he said there were also ‘clearly many challenges which lie ahead’.
He stated: ‘The privilege of being Presiding Officer in this, my now final term, is something I will never forget and I will continue to do what I can to support the parliament and the hopes and ambitions it sustains for our democracy.’
Mr Macintosh was voted in as MSP for Eastwood in 1999, holding the seat in the next three Holyrood elections.
When the Scottish Conservatives enjoyed their best-ever election result in 2016 he lost the seat to Jackson Carlaw but was still returned to the Scottish parliament as an MSP for the West of Scotland region.
After that Mr Macintosh, who was elected as a Labour MSP, took on the politically neutral role of Holyrood’s Presiding Officer.
In his time at the Scottish parliament the former television producer with BBC News has served as a ministerial aide to former First Minister Jack McConnell and he successfully introduced a Member’s Bill bringing in tougher regulations for sunbed parlours in a bid to help tackle skin cancer.
He ran twice for the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party, in 2011 and again 2015, but was unsuccessful both times.
In a statement, the father of six
‘Honoured to carry democratic torch’
said he had first stood for election in 1999 because he ‘believed that the new Scottish parliament offered so much to our country, not least a fresh way of approaching politics’.
He said: ‘I have always felt honoured to carry that democratic torch as an elected representative and never more so than when chosen by my peers to become Presiding Officer.
‘I can say with all honesty, I am proud of what we have achieved over those two decades, from land reform and the smoking ban to the investment in our public services and public servants.’
Mr Macintosh added: ‘I believe the Scottish parliament has delivered on so much of that early promise, but I am conscious too that the threat to democratic politics and our liberal society looms as large as it has ever done.’
Scottish Labour leader, Richard Leonard paid tribute to Mr Macintosh, saying: ‘Ken has been a great servant of the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish parliament and, most important of all, the people.
‘An ardent supporter of devolution, and a member of the parliament since 1999 his unstinting efforts as a Labour frontbencher and, over the last four years as the Presiding Officer, have consistently made the case for the parliament as a power for change.
‘He is a kind and decent man with a strong sense of his own values. The Scottish Labour Party wishes him, Claire and the family well.’
Nationalist MSP Paul Wheelhouse paid tribute to Mr Macintosh’s time in office, saying: ‘All the best for the future, Ken. I wish you well.
‘Thank you for the helpful advice you have given to me in your time as Presiding Officer.’
Scottish Labour MSP Pauline McNeill, said: ‘A dear friend and colleague Ken, you will be missed. Your calmness and professionalism in the chair are class qualities in a Presiding Officer.’
Scottish Lib Dem MSP Alex ColeHamilton said: ‘Ken Macintosh has always been very good to me. Will always regard him as a friend and mentor. You’ve still got a sizeable contribution to make, Ken.’