Parliament's diversity on show as 14 languages used to swear in new MSPs
The Highland, lowlands, the islands and beyond were all linguistically represented on the first day of Holyrood
We are all used to hearing politicians shouting and bawling at each other inside the Holyrood debating chamber.
But on the first sitting day of the new parliament, we saw hope with new beginnings mixing with the oldest of traditions.
A total of 14 different languages from all over the world were used to swear in the 129 newly-elected MSPs. While each MSP has to swear their oath or allegiance in English, they can choose to repeat it in a second language if they wish.
Six MSPs used Gàidhlig after fears were raised there would be no Gàidhlig speakers in this session of parliament. This included Ariane Burgess, David Linden, Donald Mackinnon, Emma Roddick, Alison Thewliss and Maree Todd.
A light was also shone on regional dialects, with Heather Anderson, Clare Adamson, Jackie Dunbar, Holly Bruce and Laura Mitchell using Scots or Doric. Ms Mitchell was also sworn in while holding the Clavie of Burghead - the clavie is a burning tar barrel which is carried through the town of Burghead on January 11 (by the old Julian calendar), and fragments are then kept for good luck. This is one of the oldest traditions in Scotland.
There was also a northern isles showdown when Hannah Mary Goodlad, the new SNP MSP for Shetland, spoke in Shaetlan - not to be outdone, she was then immediately followed by fellow nationalist Neil Gray in Orcadian.
Other languages from all over the world were used too, demonstrating the truly multicultural parliament that has been elected. This included British Sign Language (Karen Adam), Arabic (Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Irshad Ahmed and Zen Gani), Dutch (Sanne Dijkstra-Downie), Polish (Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill), Zimbabwean Shona (Maggie Chapman) and Hindi (Simita Kumar).
Not to be outdone, there needs to be a special mention for Yi Pei-Chou-Turvey, who made her oath in not one, not two, but three languages - English, Mandarin and French.
The oaths all require MSPs to swear allegiance to King Charles III, but many chose to make it clear that they serve the people of Scotland, not the monarchy, including John Swinney. Màiri McAllan, who is widely tipped to be in the running to become the next deputy first minister, added onto the end of her oath: “Scotland forever.”
MSPs are able to choose either a religious oath or a secular affirmation to be sworn in as an MSP. For the first time ever, more MSPs chose an affirmation than an oath.
A total of 67 used an affirmation compared to 62 swearing an oath.
Joe Higgins, campaigns officer at Humanist Society Scotland, said: “Today’s swearing-in ceremony suggests that Scotland has elected its most openly non-religious parliament in history.
“The decision of most MSPs to opt for a secular affirmation should come as no surprise, given a majority of people now say they have no religion.
“We welcome this shift towards parliament that more accurately reflects the diversity of belief in modern Scotland.”
Now that all the MSPs are officially elected members, the hard work now begins. Formal business resumes on Tuesday, with the election of the next First Minister.
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