Scottish Liberal Democrats end SNP majority on Parliamentary Bureau

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have gained membership of the Scottish Parliament’s Parliamentary Bureau, ending the SNP’s majority.   

Jamie Greene’s defection earlier this month has elevated the Lib Dems to five seats, making them an official parliamentary group.   

Following discussions with presiding officer Alison Johnstone and the chief executive of the Scottish Parliament David McGill, the party has secured extra privileges including a seat on the Scottish Parliament’s Parliamentary Bureau and an extra question for its leader Alex Cole-Hamilton at First Minister’s Questions.

Willie Rennie will represent the party on the parliamentary business body, which during this parliamentary term the SNP has held a majority of votes over issues such as the timetabling of debates and ministerial statements.  

Greene will also retain his role as the deputy convener of the Public Audit Committee.   

Cole-Hamilton said: “His [Greene's] brave decision to join Scottish Liberal Democrats will also have a significant impact on events in the parliament because it breaks through years of dominance on the powerful body which controls parliamentary timetabling. The SNP will no longer have the majority say on how parliament runs and works.  

“The Liberal Democrats’ elevation to the bureau will give the majority of MSPs who are not from the SNP back control of our parliament. The SNP will need to compromise, not railroad through its own agenda.”  

He added: “We will work with other opposition parties to use these extra levers over areas such as ministerial statements and the timetabling of debates and legislation to hold the SNP to account and ensure that they are focused on the issues that matter most.”