Parliament reconvened on 12 May 2016 with the swearing-in of MSPs and the election of the presiding officer and two deputy presiding officers.[2] Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the fifth session on 2 July 2016.[3]
These are graphical representations of the Scottish Parliament showing a comparison of party strengths as it was directly after the 2016 general election and its composition at dissolution:
Note this is not the official seating plan of the Scottish Parliament.
List of MSPs
This is a list of MSPs. The changes table below records all changes in party affiliation during the session, since the May 2016 election.
Alex Johnstone died on 7 December 2016, aged 55.[6] It was announced on 13 December that the Conservatives had nominated Bill Bowman to replace Johnstone.[7] Bowman was sworn in on 21 December.[8]
John Lamont resigned his seat, effective 4 May 2017, in order to contest the 2017 UK general election.[9] This triggered a by-election in his Scottish Parliament seat, which was held on the same day as the UK general election (8 June 2017).[9]Rachael Hamilton won the seat.
Douglas Ross resigned his seat in the Scottish Parliament, having won election to the UK Parliament in the 2017 general election.[13] Ross was succeeded by Jamie Halcro Johnston, who was sworn in on 20 June.[14]
Ross Thomson resigned his seat in the Scottish Parliament, having won election to the UK Parliament in the 2017 general election.[13] Thomson was succeeded by Tom Mason, who was sworn in on 20 June.[14]