Members of the Scottish Parliament have been formally sworn in at Holyrood as the new parliamentary term gets under way in Edinburgh. All 129 MSPs are required to take an oath or make a solemn affirmation of loyalty to the King before they can take their seats and participate in parliamentary business.
The leaders of the main parties were called first to take their oaths, followed by the remaining MSPs in alphabetical order. The ceremony marks the official start of the new session following the recent Scottish Parliament elections, and is a procedural step that must be completed before any debates or votes on legislation can take place.
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Ahead of making his formal oath, First Minister John Swinney used his remarks in the chamber to emphasise his party’s priorities. He told MSPs: “Before I take my oath, let me pledge that the primary loyalty of the Scottish National Party is to the people of Scotland, in line with the constitutional principle of the sovereignty of the people.” His intervention underlined the continuing constitutional debate at Holyrood, even as members pledged loyalty to King Charles as required under current rules.
Later in the day, MSPs are expected to choose a new Presiding Officer, who will chair debates and represent the parliament externally. The successful candidate will need to secure majority backing in the chamber and, once elected, is required to renounce all party affiliations to maintain the impartiality of the role.
Outside the chamber, party staff and MSPs’ guests gathered in the parliament building to watch the proceedings and mark the beginning of the new term. With the swearing-in complete and a Presiding Officer due to be elected, formal negotiations over committee posts and the legislative timetable are set to follow in the coming days.
