A Conversation for David Steel, Liberal Party (UK) Leader

Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 1

Cloviscat

Hi DD

I can see you’ve got plenty on your mind at the mo, but can i add my smiley - 2cents?

There’s technically no such thing as the Speaker of the Scottish parliament, and the word is *never* used there. The position is laid down in law as the “Presiding Officer” - everybody calls him the PO. The post is quite different in powers to the Speaker, but I can understand using providing a comparative though “presding officer - a role similar in many ways to that of the Speaker at the House of Commons” Hmm?

Here’s the anorak bit, if you’re bothered:

Scotland Act:
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/80046--b.htm#19

CSG Report:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/documents-w5/rcsg-06.htm

Standing Orders
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parl_bus/sto-1.htm#1 Chapter 3

Hope you don’t mind me sticking my nose in

smiley - smileysmiley - blackcat


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 2

Demon Drawer

Quite right clovis cat. Hope we can get this changed before it goes live.


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 3

Cloviscat

smiley - cheers

I could win awards for being a bit too late smiley - winkeye


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 4

Demon Drawer

Not quite yet Cloviscat.


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 5

Sam

OK, I've added this information. I hope I've done it correctly.
I'm sure you'll tell me if I haven't.smiley - biggrin


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 6

Cloviscat

smiley - angelsmiley - whistle

I can't think that you could possbly mean either of us!

Looks fine from my pov, thanks for taking the time smiley - smiley


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 7

Demon Drawer

smiley - cheers Sam


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 8

Sam

You're both welcome. smiley - smiley

Random hypothetical question: If Scotland ever became fully independent, would the country issue its own passport? If so, although I don't live in Scotland, would I qualify for one (born there, Scottish parents, granparents etc).

A Scottish passport would be really cool. Aesthetically at least. smiley - smiley


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 9

Demon Drawer

This is a hypothetucal question indeed.

It involves firstly a change in teh current government in Scotland.

Then whether in Coalition of majority a certain Party getting a referendum question put before the electorate.

Then the result of that referendum being voted on in favour of independence.

However the independence/dependence of Scotland is a reserved matter and can only be discussed at Westminster. So failing a bloody revolution it is likely to fail at this stage as no Scotland would claim the North Sea Oil, which Westminster would want to keep.

However should all these steps be passed I will campaign on the behave of people qualifying through parents and Grandparents after all FC had the misfortune to be born south of the border after all.

smiley - smiley

Now off for same real campaigning. smiley - winkeye


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 10

Jamie

I can see it now...

Cover: Tartan naturally, possibly an amalgim of the Rangers and Celtic plaids for maximum retinal damage, surmounted by crossed thistle and deep-fried mars bar, on a shield of Irn-Bru.

Declaration: "The Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland wishes to affirm that the bearer of this passport is not English, and therefore should be welcomed everywhere. Ta." smiley - winkeye

Of course, having said that, if we apply the same criterion for nationality as our footie/rugger teams, half the planet would be eligible smiley - laugh


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 11

Demon Drawer

Sssh. I wasn't going to mention that special clause. smiley - winkeye


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 12

Wand'rin star

<> Who's gonna be king, then? smiley - starsmiley - star


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 13

Cloviscat

There is a list as long as my arm of claimants to the throne. I've met a few: they didn't inspire homage in me! (A Google search on "Prince Michael of Albany" will tell you about one of the most high profile ones smiley - tongueout)

From the internal wranglings I've seen so far, I feel we'd descend into splinter groups and civil war over the National Anthem, name of the country, monarch, tartan, internet abbreviation, capital city... within a week, at a guess smiley - smiley


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 14

Sam

Thank you one and all for your replies! Very interesting. smiley - smiley


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 15

Demon Drawer

FC says she'll back you claim as well. smiley - winkeye


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 16

Sam

Ha! Brilliant.smiley - laugh


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 17

Jamie

Hmmm. According to the SNP website, the Queen would continue to be the head of state, similar to Australia et al. I assume the SSP's position may be a teeny bit more republican.

Rab C Nesbitt for King! smiley - winkeye


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 18

Demon Drawer

Yeah I think there are coinsidering T Sheridan for King on a peasants salary.


Speaker/Presiding Officer

Post 19

Jamie

Hey, why not be democratic about it. The monarch could be chosen at random every so often. Age no object, class no object. After all, they couldn't be any more embarassing than some of the current lot, surely?

"You too can be King for a day" smiley - laugh


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