Scotland: End of term report

At the end of another parliamentary term The Politics Show Scotland looks back at the highs and lows since the election on 1 May 2003.

Field of Dreams?

The face of Scottish politics changed dramatically when the electorate decided to back two of the smaller parties, voting in seven Green MSPs and six Scottish Socialists.

There were other shocks on 1 May 2003 as Executive ministers were unseated and Labour safe seats overturned.

Greens controversy

The first MSP to flirt with controversy was Patrick Harvie from the Green Party when he launched a Civil Partnerships Bill which would include gay marriage.

Launched a Civil Partnerships Bill which included gay marriage

This would give co-habiting couples, either heterosexual or same-sex, similar rights to married couples.

The Tories immediately accused him of hi-jacking the parliament's agenda in the opening few days of the new session.

No to 'Ned'

Since then there have been numerous other parliamentary spats.

MSP Rosie Kane tackled the parliament about the use of the term 'Ned'.

The Scottish Socialist Party's Rosie Kane said the term was hurtful and disrespectful to young people.

Ms Kane said the word stands for a non-educated delinquent and is therefore degrading and insulting.

However, communities minister Margaret Curran accused her of focusing on "frivolities" rather than the blight of youth crime.

Ms Kane tabled a question asking the Scottish Executive to state its position on ministers using the term.

The former youth worker in the Drumchapel area of Glasgow wants the parliament to condemn its use, comparing it to ageism, racism and sexism.

Holyrood escalates

The cost of the new Holyrood building has continued to cause a stir amongst politicians forcing the First Minister Jack McConnell to launch an inquiry.

First Minister Jack McConnell told parliament his inquiry into the soaring cost of Holyrood, now standing at £375m, would leave no stone unturned.

Headed by the former Lord Advocate, Lord Fraser, the inquiry will investigate the policy decisions made by the key players in the Holyrood saga stretching back to 1997 when devolution was a gleam in Labour's eye.

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