Ceremony to mark the Third Session
Speech by the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
Alex Fergusson MSP
070/2007 | 30 June 2007
Presiding Officer, Your Majesty…our Queen of Scots…I am both honoured and delighted, as the new Presiding Officer, to welcome you to the Chamber of the Scottish Parliament today…to this historic ceremony which officially marks our third parliamentary session.
You will note Your Majesty, that as I stand here, I am keeping both a close eye and a firm grip on my papers... !
This is entirely due to the fact that the last time a member of my family addressed the Royal family was when my father preached to you at Crathie Kirk in 1962.
I will never forget sitting in the front pew as a very proud 9-year-old as he began his sermon and then watching in total horror as his notes fell over the front of the pulpit to the floor, some 10 to 12 feet below.
No-one dared get up to hand them back to him and he preached on as if nothing had happened, but the moment has stayed firmly with me.
I was astonished - and, I have to say, greatly impressed - to discover that that moment had obviously stayed with Your Majesty as well, when you reminded me of the occasion at your Reception for all MSPs in 1999, some 37 years later.
Sincerely though, we are grateful for the support given by Your Majesty at each stage of our parliamentary life - at the establishment of a new Scottish Parliament in 1999, at our Aberdeen sitting in 2002 during your Golden Jubilee Year, at the start of our second session in 2003 and, as we opened this new building here in Holyrood in 2004.
You have been, and you remain, a good friend of the Scottish Parliament.
And now you join us to mark this third parliamentary session…a session which brings with it a minority government and another new form of politics.
Yet another stage in our parliamentary life, but one which will provide increased opportunity for wholesome and hearty debate, one that will encourage and necessitate a working together across the parties to achieve consensus, and most importantly, one that places a greater influence and power into the hands of the people of Scotland through their parliament.
At the opening of this building in 2004, the last verse of Edwin Morgan’s poem laid down a charge for the Members of the Scottish Parliament:
“…We give you our dearest wish to govern well, don’t say we have no mandate to be so bold. We give you this great building, don’t let your work and hope be other than great when you enter and begin. So now begin. Open the doors and begin.”
And that was indeed the story of our second session. We opened our doors and we began a period of transition, where the focus shifted from a building to the building of a participative and progressive parliament.
One Scot, who recently engaged with their parliament, wrote:
“From one who has little interest in politics – on my honour – my view has changed completely.”
So yes, in Session Two we opened our doors and we engaged with our people in relevant and innovative ways.
And in doing so, we passed legislation that makes a real difference to lives. We received our 1,000th petition, marked our millionth visitor here in Holyrood, and we witnessed the participation of over 25,000 young people to our education programmes.
Already, this is a parliament internationally recognised for its innovative engagement. Last year alone, 18,000 delegates came and talked business, talked barriers faced by disabled people, and talked Europe at our many participative events.
Last year our award winning Festival of Politics saw a 94% take-up of public tickets…and this year, our Futures Forum published its first major report, and has already embarked on its second.
At the end of session two and in his final speech as Presiding Officer, my predecessor, George Reid, reflected on the transition period of the second session, and he said:
“We have opened the doors and given Holyrood to the people… we can all take pride in the Scottish Parliament. Since 1999, we have grown in confidence, commitment and clarity of debate… Scotland ’s third parliament is now ready for another change.”
How right he was, and here we stand, at the dawn of another chapter in our parliamentary life. However, although as with any parliament we will continue to develop, one fact is set in stone. That the Scottish Parliament will always be shaped by its four key, founding principles of accessibility, the sharing of power, accountability and equal opportunities.
It will continue to consult with and listen to its people, building policy on that voice.
The Scottish politician, James Maxton said:
“This is our land, this is our Scotland , these are our people, our works, our men, our women and children; can you beat it?”
Today is about a “PPP” - not the PPP that is often surrounded by political controversy… this is a PPP about the people, Parliament and Palace coming together to mark this third parliamentary session by celebrating the modern day achievements of the people of Scotland.
Achievements that are as rich and diverse as the people themselves.
We celebrate those who work in our respected education system, in our vibrant civic society and communities, in enterprise, where we already lead the world in fields such as finance, and those in our thriving life science sector.
We celebrate those who work to protect our beautiful landscape and our natural environment, the Christian Church and other religions within our rich and diverse faith community, our sportsmen and women who make Scotland proud.
And, of course we celebrate our many talented artists, writers, dancers and musicians who so inspire our cultural community.
Scotland’s history is full of famous Scots… men and women who have made us proud.
But as the Riding walks down the Royal Mile today and we glimpse that snapshot of modern Scotland, its people and their achievements, I am certain that they would echo with us those words of James Maxton…these are our people, these are our works…can you beat it?
To conclude…William McIlvanney, the Scottish writer and poet said:
"We all move forward together, or we don’t move forward at all.”
So as we mark this third parliamentary session as Members of the Scottish Parliament, it can only be beneficial to keep this thought at the forefront of our minds.
This is our people…our richly talented and diverse people.
Let us remember that it is their contributions which grow and shape Scotland and in everything we do, we must work with them, move forward with them, and together, build a better future for Scotland.
Ends.
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