12.05.2016
Following the election of Ken Macintosh MSP as the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer, a further secret ballot of Members saw Linda Fabiani MSP (left) and Christine Grahame MSP elected as Deputy Presiding Officers.
Deputy Presiding Officer Linda Fabiani MSP said:
"It is an honour to have been elected to this exciting and challenging role. I am very much looking forward to playing my part in the work of the fifth Parliament and I pledge to work hard with my counterparts to make the next Parliament a success.”
Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame MSP commented:
"I am pleased to have received the support of my colleagues for this important position. I feel privileged to be working with Ken and Linda in the coming session.”
Biographies
Linda Fabiani MSP
MSP for East Kilbride, Linda Fabiani was born in Glasgow on 14 December 1956 and educated at Hyndland Secondary School. Upon leaving school she worked in various secretarial roles before starting a career within the housing associations sector. After gaining a diploma in housing at Glasgow University she went on to become Development Manager at Bute Housing Association and then Director of East Kilbride Housing Association.
First elected to the Scottish Parliament in May 1999, she was an MSP for Central Scotland until 2011, when she became MSP for East Kilbride.
She is a Fellow the Chartered Institute of Housing and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. In 2007 she was awarded the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella della Solidarieta’ Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity) by the Italian Government for working to promote Scots/Italian links.
She has been a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Corporate Body and the Devolution Committee.
Christine Grahame MSP
MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Christine was born in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire on 9 September 1944. She was brought up in Edinburgh and attended the University of Edinburgh.
After graduating, she worked as a teacher before returning to the University of Edinburgh as a mature student where she earned a law degree, and afterwards she practised as a solicitor.
Christine has been an MSP since 1999, initially as a South Of Scotland list MSP but, since 2011, MSP for the constituency of Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.
Christine was Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee and also the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing. She chairs the cross party group on Animal Welfare.
Background
The elections of the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer and two Deputy Presiding Officers are the only secret ballots conducted in the Scottish Parliament.
In May 2011, Tricia Marwick became the Scottish Parliament’s fourth Presiding Officer and Elaine Smith and John Scott elected as Deputy Presiding Officers .
In May 2007, Alex Fergusson became the Scottish Parliament’s third Presiding Officer and Alasdair Morgan and Trish Godman elected as Deputy Presiding Officers.
In May 2003, George Reid became Scottish Parliament’s second Presiding Officer and Murray Tosh and Trish Godman were elected as Deputy Presiding Officers.
In May 1999, Sir David Steel became the Scottish Parliament's first Presiding Officer, and Patricia Ferguson and George Reid were elected as Deputy Presiding Officers. Murray Tosh took over as Deputy Presiding Officer from Patricia Ferguson in November 2001.