Scottish Labour’s Ken Macintosh confirms presiding officer bid

Scottish Labour MSP Ken Macintosh has confirmed he will seek election as the Scottish Parliaments' new presiding officer.

MSPs will elect the new presiding officer and two deputy presiding officers of the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, and former Labour leadership candidate Ken Macintosh is the first to formally declare an interest.

He is expected to be joined by Labour colleagues Elaine Smith, who served as deputy presiding officer last term, and former party leader Johann Lamont, who Holyrood understands is considering the role.

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Conservatives Murdo Fraser and John Scott have also been rumoured to be interested.

Macintosh has now said he has support from MSPs in other parties and will try to “steer parliament away” from political divides.

“I still recall the principles of openness and cross-party working on which the Parliament was founded and, perhaps now more than ever, we need a presiding officer who will use those principles to steer us away from the tribal and partisan hostility that has occasionally dominated the chamber in recent years,” he said.

"I don’t have to pretend to be someone I am not.  Whether you are a government minister or opposition backbencher, I have always been approachable and accessible."

As well as chairing debates, the presiding officer is responsible for leading structural change in the Scottish Parliament, something both Labour and the Conservatives have pledged to do.

Macintosh was elected on the West of Scotland regional list after losing the Eastwood seat the Conservatives.