PA MediaNewly-elected MSPs have begun arriving at the Scottish Parliament following the results of the election, with some comparing the experience to the “first day of school”.
Representatives who have been elected for the first time, or who are returning after a period outside Holyrood, are being inducted into the building on Monday and Tuesday ahead of the formal swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.
On Monday, 23 new MSPs from across the political parties will be inducted, followed by another 20 on Tuesday.
Once all members are sworn in on Thursday, the first order of business will be to elect a new Presiding Officer to replace Ken Macintosh.
Among those being inducted on Monday are Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, who is returning to Holyrood after stepping down to become an MP in 2017, and Scottish Greens co-leader, Lorna Slater.
Slater tweeted “here we are!” as she arrived, saying there was a “strong first day of school vibe”.
The election saw two female ethnic minority MSPs elected for the first time: the SNP’s Kaukab Stewart and Pam Gosal for the Tories.
Gosal posted a video message on Twitter saying: “Today is my first day and it will be induction day.
“How am I feeling? I’m feeling excited, nervous.
“Do you know when it’s that first day at school and you’ve got those butterflies in your stomach?
“That’s how I’m feeling, wish me luck.”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
