Video summary
The video captures a formal parliamentary session titled "Decision Time" held on September 22, 2026, where several amendments and motions were debated and voted upon. The proceedings began with Amendment 1264.2 proposed by Michael Marra, which was successfully agreed to following a vote of 91 in favor against 12 opposed. Shortly after, the chamber considered Amendment 1264.3 submitted by Malcolm Offord; however, this amendment was selected for debate but ultimately not moved, meaning no vote took place on it. A member expressed surprise at these events, noting that there had been no prior indication of difficulty during previous bureau meetings or when the main business motion was initially agreed to without a division, characterizing the afternoon's actions as a gross discourtesy to all members.
The voting process continued with Amendment 1264.5 by Gillian Mackay, which passed with 85 votes in favor and 12 against, alongside six abstentions. This was followed by a vote on Amendment 1264.4 proposed by Russell Findlay, which failed to gain traction as the chamber voted 85 against it compared to only 12 in favor, with six members abstaining. The session then moved to Amendment 1264.1 by David Green, which also did not pass, receiving just 35 votes in favor against 68 opposed. Throughout these votes, a member named Gillian Martin frequently raised points of order regarding her inability to log in or cast her vote electronically, but the presiding officer confirmed that her votes were recorded as intended, either yes or no depending on the specific amendment.
The climax of the session arrived with the consideration of Motion 1264 in the name of John Swinney, which was amended to address Scotland's right to decide. After an initial call for agreement was rejected by the chamber, a final vote was conducted where the motion as amended passed with 84 votes in favor against 18 opposed. The session concluded with the presiding officer announcing that the decision time had ended and requesting that members who were not staying for further business leave the chamber quietly. The transcript reflects a structured yet contentious legislative process where various amendments were scrutinized, leading to mixed outcomes before the final motion secured approval to close the proceedings.
Read the full video transcript
Will nobody start proceedings? The
question is that amendment 1264.2
in the name of Michael Marra be agreed.
Please vote now.
Voting is closed.
Point of order, Gillian Martin.
>> I apologize. I haven't been able to log
in to the app. I would have voted yes.
>> Thank you. Your vote has been recorded.
The result of the vote on amendment
1264.2
in the name of Michael Marra is yes, 91.
No, 12. The amendment is therefore
agreed.
Amendment 1264.3
in the name of Malcolm Offord
was submitted and selected for debate,
but it was not moved. So, there will not
be a vote on that amendment.
I would like to record my surprise at
this afternoon's events, as there was no
indication whatsoever at this week's
bureau meeting or in previous weeks that
it formed any difficulty with the
proposed business. Nor was there any
opposition to it when the business
motion was moved and agreed to without
division, I might add, by this chamber.
I therefore consider this afternoon's
antics to be a gross discourtesy to all
members of this chamber.
>> [applause]
>> The next question is amendment 1264.5
in the name of Gillian Mackay be agreed
to. Are we all agreed?
>> Yes.
>> We're not agreed. Please vote now.
>> Yes.
>> Voting is closed.
Point of order, Gillian Martin.
>> What is yes, presiding officer?
>> Thank you. Your vote has been recorded.
The result of the vote on amendment
1264.5 in the name of Gillian Mackay is
yes, 85, no, 12. There are six
abstentions. The amendment is therefore
agreed. The next question is amendment
1264.4
in the name of Russell Findlay be agreed
to. Are we all agreed?
>> Yes.
>> We're not agreed. vote now.
>> Yes.
>> [clears throat]
>> Voting is closed.
Point of order, Gillian Martin.
>> Thank you for staying an officer. We
have voted no.
>> Thank you. Your vote has been recorded.
The result of voting amendment 1264.4 in
the name of Russell Findlay is yes 12,
no 85. There were six abstentions. The
amendment is therefore not agreed. The
next question is amendment 1264.1 in the
name of David Green be agreed to. Are we
all agreed?
We're not agreed. Please vote now.
Voting is closed.
Point of order, Jillian Martin.
>> Voted no, Presiding Officer.
>> Thank you. Your vote has been recorded.
The result of the vote on amendment
1264.1
in the name of David Green is yes, 35.
No, 68. The amendment is therefore not
agreed.
The next question is that motion 1264 in
the name of John Swinney as amended on
Scotland's right to decide be agreed.
Are we all agreed?
>> No.
>> We're not agreed. Please vote now.
Voting is closed.
Point of order, Jillian Martin.
>> The final time, I would have voted yes.
>> Thank you. Your vote has been recorded.
The result of the vote on motion 1264 in
the name of John Swinney as amended is
yes, 84. no, 18. The motion as amended
is therefore agreed.
That concludes decision time. As members
are not staying for members business,
will please leave the chamber quietly.