Going through the motions

January 26th, 2009

I have recently been asked again about how useful parliamentary motions are given that some have hit the headlines recently.

I would say that these motions do have an important part to play in the business of Parliament as they can be picked up to form a debate.

MSPs can use them to highlight certain issues or achievements, from humanitarian disasters to local girl-guide charity work, and sometimes result in changing the law of the land.

But I struggle to see the relevancy of some others, including the recent motion by MSP Christine Grahame to salute rock band AC-DC ahead of their concert later this year, which attracted derision from the media.

I don’t know if it got Christine free tickets but it certainly provoked a few laughs around Parliament.

As I leafed through some recent motions during the recess, I found some other crackers.

For example, there was the motion put down by John Lamont MSP calling for a memorial to ‘Voytek the Soldier Bear’, who apparently served in the Polish army during the Second World War and was billeted in Berwickshire before retiring to Edinburgh Zoo. Seriously!

Another one that brought a few laughs was from West of Scotland list MSP Stuart McMillan, who put down a motion congratulating the Parliament canteen on a US-themed menu to mark Independence Day. I am sure he will be getting an extra helping of chips for that one!

A more self-indulgent one was from Ayrshire MSP Kenneth Gibson, who put out a motion congratulating an 11-year-old winner of a school trophy – a certain Heather Gibson. A relation perhaps?

Just to prove there is no political bias here, I will highlight the contribution of two of my close colleagues in Edinburgh, Peter Peacock and George Foulkes.

Peter, the ever-romantic MSP for the Highlands and Islands, backed a campaign to bring back a ‘Bull Hire Scheme’ for crofters needing their cows impregnated.

And I am sure Lord Foulkes had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he motioned a happy birthday message to 007 star and well-known SNP donor Sean Connery.

While these motions may be justified by some in the political bubble in Holyrood, according to my mail bag they are considered frivolous by the wider public.