A NEW parliament has been elected and 129 men and women have been given a huge responsibility.

The Scottish Parliament is more powerful than ever and will control some tax and welfare policies for the first time.

There are dozens of new faces as many veterans bowed out and some familiar faces were defeated at the polls last night.

New or old, these MSPs in the class of 2016 have high expectations to meet.

And they created those expectations themselves. The politicians have been telling us for the last six weeks and more what wonderful things they will do if we elect them.

Blowing your own trumpet is a requirement to be a politician but now it is time to come good on the promises and play a decent tune.

During the election campaign we heard what they could and would do for the next five years, so we do not want to hear excuses and why they can’t do what they said they would.

Our new MSPs must also remember who put them in Parliament.

When they sit in Holyrood, while they will argue all day long with opponents they must remember represent those who elected them.

That must be their first loyalty, not the party they stood for. The needs and ambitions of the people in their communities whose approval they so desperately sought must come before the needs of their party.

This parliament is a watershed for Holyrood with so much more under its control.

We need MSPs who are capable of shouldering that responsibility, coming up with ideas and being prepared to stand up and be counted even if it means scrutinising their own leaders.

Too often in the parliament rival parties face off against one another in a juvenile playground shouting match.

The objective of some, across the political spectrum, is to cajole, heckle, harass, and harangue until the opponent is defeated and humiliated, credibility destroyed as the bullies sit back smiling, job done.

On committees, where the purpose is to scrutinise legislation and the government all too often the reality has been slavish backing of government policy from its own MSPs.

Some have taken this further by turning evidence sessions with witnesses into an argument where their views are questioned if they are critical.

Scotland has the right to expect more from its politicians and for them to conduct themselves in a civilised professional and respectful manner.

Some of the behaviour witnessed at Holyrood would not be tolerated in any other workplace.

Today the people have put their trust in those chosen to represent them.

It is a great honour to be elected to parliament and one that should be taken seriously.

Our MSPs have created the high expectations we now have and we should now all demand they are met.