THE Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone, has said she will be away from Holyrood for a “few weeks” due to surgery.
In a post on Twitter/X, she said she hoped to return to work as normal “soon” and thanked those who had been looking after her.
She said: “Due to planned surgery, I’ll be away from the Parliament for a few weeks. Looking forward to being back at Holyrood soon.
“Thanks to the caring and professional NHS staff.”
It means the deputy presiding officers – Liam McArthur and Annabelle Ewing – will step in on her behalf.
It comes ahead of a key debate in Holyrood this afternoon calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.
Johnstone was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2011 as a member of the Scottish Greens.
However, when she assumed the role of Presiding Officer – a role with no party affiliation – she resigned her membership.
