Europe Decides

The Scottish Parliament has been put `on hold’ for a week because the parties cannot decide on a Presiding Officer.

The Presiding Officer is a politically neutral post with no voting power, so, in the new parliament, where every vote will be crucial, no party is willing to put forward a candidate and risk losing power.

However, the Scotland Act requires that parliament must meet within seven days of an election, and must elect a Presiding Officer at its first meeting. To get around the act, the Parliament will hold its first meeting today, with the swearing in of MSPs, but will be adjourned until Monday.