Latest news with #AlisonJohnstone
The National
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Scottish Parliament won't release files on trans toilet policy
The National lodged a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Parliament asking for documents, emails, memos, or other correspondence relating to the decision, or around the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance. Holyrood officials released one email sent to parliamentary staff from the senior executive team setting out its position but did not give out any background information. In its refusal letter, the Scottish Parliament admitted it held the documentation we had requested, but cited several exemptions. READ MORE: Scottish Government changes guidance that led to Supreme Court ruling They claimed it would 'inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice', that disclosure would 'prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs' and that it refers to legal advice, which is exempt. On May 9, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone announced that trans women would be barred from using female toilets following the Supreme Court judgment on the definition of a woman and the subsequent EHRC guidance. The move led to MSPs and staff writing to Holyrood's governing body expressing 'deep concern' over the decision, but the policy has remained in place. We previously told how the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) defended the decision in the Holyrood chamber last week. (Image: PA) The Scottish Parliament said it was refusing our request as correspondence related to a 'sensitive topic'. 'While an interim position concerning single sex facilities at the Scottish Parliament has been taken, work is planned to inform further practical changes which may be needed,' it stated. 'As such, this remains a live topic, and parliamentary officials must be able to communicate with each other freely and gather information for the purposes of provision of advice to the SPCB. 'The SPCB agreed to conduct an extensive consultation to inform what further changes may be required to facilities in the medium to longer term. 'This consultation will also take account of the updated EHRC statutory code of practice when it becomes available later this year. 'Disclosure of information in response to a freedom of information request has the effect of releasing information into the public domain.' READ MORE: I spent all day counting Keir Starmer's 17 U-turns — see the full list The refusal notice also claimed releasing the documents would discourage officials from 'engaging freely with each other when gathering information'. It added that it would not release correspondence or complaints as it was not in the public interest. 'It is important that members of the public feel free to express themselves on the matter they are corresponding about without the fear that their correspondence or our reply will be released into the public domain,' the notice added. In the one-page document that was released through the FOI, officials told staff in an email dated May 8 that they wanted to 'reassure you that we are managing our response at Holyrood with the utmost care and sensitivity'. 'We remain deeply committed to ensuring that all our staff feel supported, and we will continue to uphold our values of respect and inclusiveness as an employer,' they said, before explaining that all staff and visitors were able to use gender neutral facilities on the parliamentary estate. 'Holyrood must be a safe, respectful and inclusive environment in which to work and visit and one feature of an inclusive environment is the availability of convenient facilities for all individuals,' the email added. Officials then pointed staff to support and counselling services. 'In the meantime, Directors and I are happy to answer any questions you might have and we encourage all managers at Holyrood to take steps to support their trans and non-binary staff, offering ongoing wellbeing support,' the email concluded. Last week, Scottish Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw, responding on behalf of the SPCB, insisted the governing body had 'legal responsibilities'. READ MORE: Labour's 'minor' U-turn will leave benefits system 'woefully inadequate' 'Our job, even though we are politicians, is not to debate the politics of an issue, but to ensure that we are implementing the law as the law is communicated to us,' Carlaw told the chamber. And, on Monday, the Westminster Parliament implemented the same ban, after stating they would wait for official guidance to be published. It came after a transgender barrister was accosted by gender critical activists outside of a women's bathroom on the parliamentary estate. The EHRC was forced to rescind part of its interim guidance amid a legal challenge. Full guidance is expected to be published following a consultation, which is currently underway.
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Scottish Parliament chief to stand down at next Holyrood election
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOLYROOD presiding officer Alison Johnstone will stand down as an MSP next year. The former Scottish Greens politician has announced that she won't run in next May's election. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Sign up 2 Alison Johnstone is set to stand down as an MSP Credit: Alamy 2 She has been presiding officer at the Scottish Parliament since 2021 Credit: Alamy Ms Johnstone took on the non-partisan presiding officer position in 2021. Following the last Scottish Parliament election, the Lothians MSP emerged as the only candidate for the Holyrood chamber role. She was elected with 97 votes in favour, 28 against, two abstentions and one spoiled ballot. The job of presiding officer is equivalent to the Speaker of the House of Commons. They are responsible for overseeing business at Holyrood and chairing meetings in the debating chamber. Ms Johnstone, 59, said: 'I was elected in 2011 and it was always my intention that this would be my last term in Holyrood.' She said she did not come from a political background, adding: 'I was not in a political party but campaigned for the creation of a Scottish Parliament and I then worked as an assistant for Robin Harper, the first-ever Green parliamentarian in the UK elected to the first-ever Scottish Parliament.' Recent weeks have seen the Scottish Conservatives accuse Ms Johnstone of bias in her role, an allegation she has always denied. At the end of May, the presiding officer took the rare decision to kick former Tory leader Douglas Ross out of the chamber due to his interjections at First Minister's Questions. During her tenure, Ms Johnstone guided the parliament through the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, which included implementing social distancing and remote working practices. John Swinney defends Gray's car use after minister was 'driven to pub' She was also heavily involved in the ceremony following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, when the King visited the Scottish Parliament to hear a special motion of condolence session. Before entering politics, she was a qualified athletics coach and previously held the east of Scotland titles for the 800m and 1,500m.
STV News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone to step down as MSP at election next year
Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone has confirmed she will not run to be an MSP again at next year's election. Johnstone, who was elected as a Scottish Green before taking on the non-partisan role in 2021, says she will be leaving politics. Following the last Scottish Parliament election, the Lothians MSP emerged as the only candidate for Presiding Officer and was elected with 97 votes in favour, 28 against, two abstentions and one spoiled ballot. The role of the Presiding Officer is equivalent to the Speaker of the House of Commons and is responsible for overseeing business at Holyrood, chairing meetings in the debating chamber. Speaking to The Times, Ms Johnstone said: 'I was elected in 2011 and it was always my intention that this would be my last term in Holyrood.' She said she did not come from a political background, adding: 'I was not in a political party but campaigned for the creation of a Scottish Parliament and I then worked as an assistant for Robin Harper, the first-ever Green parliamentarian in the UK elected to the first-ever Scottish Parliament.' Recent weeks have seen the Scottish Conservatives accuse Ms Johnstone of bias in her role, an allegation she has always denied. At the end of May, the Presiding Officer took the rare decision to kick former Tory leader Douglas Ross out of the chamber due to his interjections at First Minister's Questions. During her time as Presiding Officer, she steered the parliament through the Covid pandemic restrictions which saw social distancing and remote working practices implemented. She was also heavily involved in the ceremony following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, when the King visited the Scottish Parliament to hear a special motion of condolence session. Before entering politics, Ms Johnstone was a qualified athletics coach and previously held the east of Scotland titles for the 800m and 1500m. Some of her earlier campaigns as a parliamentarian included 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. The 59-year-old is a former co-leader of the Scottish Greens and one of her most prominent campaigns was against the killing of mountain hares. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Presiding Officer to step down at Holyrood 2026 election
Alison Johnstone has been in the role since 2021 and was the sixth person – and only the second woman – to hold the position. She entered politics in 2007 when she was elected as a Scottish Greens councillor in Edinburgh. READ MORE: Kate Forbes: Numbers prove that the world is ignoring those who talk Scotland down She was then elected as an MSP in 2011, and 10 years later became the first Scottish Greens party member to take up the role of Presiding Officer. Alison Johnstone (Image: PA) Announcing her decision to step down, Johnstone told The Times that "it was always my intention that this would be my last term in Holyrood". 'I came from a wholly non-political background and got involved in a campaign to save a school playing field," she said. 'I was not in a political party but campaigned for the creation of a Scottish parliament and I then worked as an assistant for Robin Harper, the first-ever Green parliamentarian in the UK elected to the first-ever Scottish parliament.' Most recently, Johnstone made headlines after she expelled former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross from the debating chamber after he refused to follow rules. Ross tried to bring the matter up a week later, and was slapped down again after he inferred Johnstone had not acted in a "neutral manner". READ MORE: UK Government 'set to proscribe Palestine Action after RAF protest' Holyrood's Presiding Officer is impartial – when MSPs take up the role, they give up their party affiliation. They are responsible for chairing meetings in the debating chamber, selecting which questions will be asked at First Minister's Questions, as well as chairing Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and Parliamentary Bureau meetings. The Presiding Officer is supported by two deputies – currently Annabelle Ewing (SNP) and Liam McArthur (LibDem). According to the Scottish Parliament website, the Presiding Officer receives a salary of £130,500.
Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Times
Alison Johnstone to stand down as Holyrood presiding officer
Alison Johnstone will quit politics next year when she stands down as Scotland's sixth presiding officer at the Holyrood elections. The departure of the 59-year-old, who sparked controversy in recent weeks after a series of rows with Douglas Ross, the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, will raise hopes among her critics that her successor will drive more radical reforms of Holyrood. While Johnstone's tenure has been seen as steady, many at Holyrood believe the parliament would benefit from Westminster-style reforms which would weaken the control of party leaders and whips over committee memberships and encourage independence among backbenchers. The King listens as Johnstone speaks during the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Scottish parliament in 2024 EFF J MITCHELL/GETTY IMAGES Meanwhile, there has been concern about the quality of debates, with some MSPs in the habit of reading out pre-written speeches rather than engaging in genuine dialogue with opponents. Speaking to The Times, Johnstone said: ' I was elected in 2011 and it was always my intention that this would be my last term in Holyrood. 'I came from a wholly non-political background and got involved in a campaign to save a school playing field.' She said, 'I was not in a political party but campaigned for the creation of a Scottish parliament and I then worked as an assistant for Robin Harper, the first-ever Green parliamentarian in the UK elected to the first-ever Scottish parliament.' Johnstone is the second female and the first Green party member to hold the presiding officer position, which comes with a £126,452 salary. Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister, left; Johnstone and Lord Offord of Garvel during a Remembrance Sunday service and parade in Edinburgh in 2022 JANE BARLOW/PA She took over the reins of Holyrood at a challenging time during the Covid pandemic, a period without precedent, and even her opponents said she did a good job steering its proceedings through uncharted waters. More recently she was involved in a series of rows with Ross who accused her of failing to 'act in a neutral manner ' after she suspended him from the Holyrood chamber. Johnstone was elected as a Green MSP in 2011, and before that was as an Edinburgh Green councillor for Morningside in 2007. She is a qualified athletics coach and former board member of Scottish Athletics, previously holding the East of Scotland records in the 800 metre and 1,500-metre events. A quarter of the present crop of 129 MSPs have announced their departures including a handful of MSPs who have been in Holyrood since its creation in 1999. This week Sarah Boyack, the veteran MSP, announced she was leaving next year, leaving Jackie Baillie as the only Labour MSP with ministerial experience on Holyrood's benches. Baillie is also the only Labour MSP who was elected in 1999 who has been in the Scottish parliament continuously since the outset and will stand again next year.
