NEWLY elected MSPs will be sworn into the Scottish Parliament tomorrow, taking their oaths in languages from Scots to Zimbabwean Shona.
Before parliamentary business can begin, the representatives have to take the oath or affirmation. This must be done in English, but members are allowed to repeat in their chosen language.
In the oath, members bear “true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth” – the statement ends “so help me God”. Meanwhile the affirmation has members pledge allegiance to the Queen, but does not include the religious reference.
Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart will be among those repeating his oath in Doric. “Doric is my mither tongue, and as always, I will do all that I can to promote it,” he said.
Gillian Martin, who represents Aberdeenshire East, will also use Doric as she takes the affirmation.
“Foo many o us wur telt tae spik ‘proper’ faun we wer bairns in the skweel?” she said.
“Doric an the Scots leid is proper, an belongs in wir pairliament.”
READ MORE: More new MSPs to arrive at Scottish Parliament ahead of swearing in ceremony
Aberdeen Donside’s Jackie Dunbar will too be “proudly” taking her oath in English as well as Doric.
The Scottish Greens’ Alison Johnstone will deliver her oath in Scots, while former MP Neil Gray will deliver his in Orcadian.
MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, will be taking the oath in both Gaelic and English.
He told the Press and Journal he felt “more explanation would be required if the MSP for the Western Isles was not doing this”.
Languages from outside of Scotland will also be present at the ceremony. Edinburgh Central MSP Angus Robertson will recite in German, Humza Yousaf will speak in Urdu and Maggie Chapman will deliver her oath in Zimbabwean Shona. The Green MSP was born and brought up there.
“I am not a native speaker but it is the language of my country of birth so I am bringing a little bit of Africa into the parliament chamber – I expect it will be the first time the oath is done in Shona,” she explained.
She welcomed the opportunity “to bring something from the other side of the world” into Holyrood.
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