THE fifth session of the Scottish Parliament got underway this week in the same way as the first four, with a series of lies.

Before MSPs can take up their posts and take part in proceedings in the parliament they must pledge their allegiance to the Queen her heirs and successors i.e Charles, William and baby George.

But many are republicans and are not loyal to Her Majesty, and given the opportunity they would have the monarch removed and replaced with an elected head of state.

Ruth Davidson took the oath, Kezia Dugdale made an affirmation and Willie Rennie took the oath.

Nicola Sturgeon gave a statement on behalf of the SNP pledging loyalty to the people of Scotland and the people were sovereign.

The statement seems to be in addition to not instead of the pledges of loyalty to the Queen that followed.

The Greens went further stating their preference for an elected head of State, something the SNP can’t do, given its White Paper desire to retain the Queen in an independent Scotland.

Of the republicans, only Labour MSPs Neil Findlay and Elaine Smith told the whole truth, that they were only taking the affirmation because it was a legal requirement to represent their constituents.

One by one the others lined up to pledge loyalty and while many will be genuine in their oath, others will not believe or mean a word of it.

It is surely a ridiculous requirement that following election by the people, allegiance has to be pledged to a monarch so far removed from those people.

And that we being our parliament’s proceedings by forcing MSPs to lie about it.

THE parliament also elected a presiding officer to serve for the next five years.

Ken Macintosh was the eventual winner from five candidates.

The Presiding Officer plays an important role at Holyrood ensuring procedures are adhered to, rules are obeyed and the Government and First Minister does not overstep its responsibilities and doesn’t ignore parliament as the legislative authority.

However in becoming the Presiding Officer the MSP chosen has to cut ties with the party they were elected under, not take part in debates, not propose Bills, not to sit on committees, be unable ask questions of ministers and the First Minister and as such has little or no influence over policy for the term of office.

Of the five candidates, Johann Lamont, Ken Macintosh, John Scott, Elaine Smith and Murdo Fraser, how many of them told their electorate during the campaign that they planned to run for the job?

Do the people who are choosing an MSP looking for action on issues like health, education, housing and poverty not have a right to know that a candidate plans to extricate themselves from the parliamentary procedure within a week of being elected.

Just like with the taking of the oath or affirmation a little more openness is required.