Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone has been elected as Holyrood’s new Presiding Officer. Ms Johnstone was the only candidate and won 97 votes, with 28 against and two abstentions, while one MSP spoiled their paper in the secret ballot. The Presiding Officer, the equivalent of the Speaker in the House of Commons, relinquishes party affiliation and sits as a non-partisan MSP for the duration of their term. Ms Johnstone’s ascension to the role will mean the SNP draws even in the number of Holyrood seats, with all opposition parties combined on 64. Covid rules meant the first meeting of the new Scottish Parliament on Thursday – which also saw all elected members sworn into office – involved some MSPs, including the new Presiding Officer, sitting in the entrance hall of the Holyrood building during the vote to allow for social distancing.