Murray Tosh elected as Deputy Presiding Officer - McConnell "Humilated"

Commenting on the election today (Thursday) of Murray Tosh as the new Deputy Presiding Officer for the Parliament the SNP leader Mr John Swinney MSP said that this was a humiliation for Jack McConnell. Mr Swinney said:

"The rejection of Cathy Peattie by the Parliament is a humiliation for Jack McConnell. The new First Minister may be able to fix things in the Labour party but he cannot fix things his way in the Scottish Parliament.

"It is clear that Labour backbenchers refused to back Jack's crony. The Labour Party is in turmoil with civil war breaking out.

"The Scottish Parliament has today demonstrated that democracy will always win out over Jack McConnell's cronyism.

"Today is a victory for the Scottish Parliament. Murray Tosh is to be congratulated on his election but we must remember that Cathy Peattie is a victim of Jack McConnell's cronyism and Labour's infighting."