Scottish Parliament Bids Farewell, Embraces Change

0:00A record number of members of the Scottish Parliament are stepping down as the current five-year term wraps up at Holyrood. This has led to heartfelt farewell speeches, especially during last Tuesday's debate on the assisted dying bill, which was ultimately defeated in a free vote without party lines dictating the outcome. The discussions stood out for its respectful tone across all parties, earning praise as an example of Parliament working at its finest. People long-serving members used the moment to call for more of this kind of civil discourse moving forward. Liz Smith, a conservative who's been there nearly 20 years, hoped future sessions would ditch the tribal rancor and embrace more thoughtful exchanges. Deputy SNP leader Keith Brown agreed it's possible, but rarely chosen, while former First Minister Humza Yusef, after 15 years, including 12. In government, cheekily suggested easing up on strict party whips. In one of their final moves, the outgoing members approved a shift for the next term.

1:00Committee conveners will now be elected by the full Parliament. Just like at Westminster, potentially boosting their independence from party control. With fresh faces arriving in these tweaks in place, the Scottish Parliament might just tone down the partisanship and elevate its debates for good. That wraps Edinburgh News today, brought to you with AI.