THERE was a real buzz around Holyrood this week - and it wasn’t just the Parliament’s bees causing chaos for those who hoped to enjoy some lunch in the sun. (More on that later.)
After the arrest and release without charge of Nicola Sturgeon on Sunday, just after Boris Johnson quit as a Tory MP on Friday - having been found to have misled the Commons over partygate - I knew I was in for a busy three days running around the parliamentary estate.
While there was no sign of the former SNP leader in Holyrood, there were plenty of stories and huddles with the current First Minister Humza Yousaf to keep us going.
On Tuesday, we had not one but two opportunities to quiz the FM. First, on his way into the SNP MSP group meeting in the afternoon, and again on his way out.
The lobby pack quizzed him on calls for Sturgeon to be suspended or “voluntarily” give up her membership. It was so warm in the lobby area outside of the room where the SNP group held their weekly meeting that one colleague remarked it would be the perfect place to grow tomatoes. He was not wrong.
Undoubtedly, the glass exterior of Holyrood turns the building into a greenhouse in summer. By Wednesday, most of the women on site were in floaty dresses or shorts, while most of the men suffered in suits.
I had an off-diary day so wanted to be on-site, as I’d requested an interview with a minister - an exclusive coming in Saturday's paper. There has been more than one occasion after I’ve made such a request that I’ve taken a call from a press officer asking if I can be in the Garden Lobby in 10 minutes.
That’s much easier when I’m working from The National’s office in the Holyrood media tower, than our office in Glasgow.
At lunch, the parliament’s bees were swarming - the population is now at half a million - and led to the cafe seating area being closed temporarily.
After we were allowed out into the garden looking out onto Arthur’s seat, I nipped along to get a quick video of the beehives, keeping our readers informed of the essential news updates on my social media feeds.
I got the interview in the bag for Thursday, so I spent Wednesday chatting to MSPs and trying to arrange a guest for our Holyrood Weekly podcast.
I almost secured Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, who was keen in person, but when I followed up with an email said his diary was packed this side of summer.
A shame, but it’s a standing invitation, maybe we’ll get him on next term.
We've still got loads of questions for him about that time he called Scotland an "ancient nation" that shouldn't exist again ... If you think he should be coming on to face those kinds of questions from The National, feel free to let him know.
Instead, my colleague Steph Brawn and I spoke to Lucy Grieve from Back Off Scotland, as the final proposal for the buffer zones bill was published on Thursday morning.
Post-FMQs was the busiest we've had in a while. We had our third huddle of the week with the FM outside of the chamber, and I found myself yet again on the PA picture wire (above).
Our editor Laura Webster was also in Holyrood on Thursday afternoon, speaking at a panel hosted by SNP MSP Rona Mackay focused on the media's role in tackling violence against women and girls. It was great to see several MSPs turned up to hear from campaigners and journalists, though next time more men should take the time to attend. Shout out to Jim Fairlie and Ben Macpherson for coming and listening.
Meanwhile Gillian Mackay was collecting signatures from MSPs for her buffer zones proposal at incredible speed, and Douglas Ross was answering questions after his former boss was proven to be a liar. I decided to be a bit cheeky.
“Are you glad to see the back of Boris Johnson so you won’t have to U-turn all the time?” I asked.
After 10 minutes of being pinned in a corner, with the sun blaring on our backs, I went in for one more - “You’re not going to miss him then?”
Does Douglas Ross regret calling Boris Johnson an "honest man", and will he miss him now he's gone? I spoke to him after FMQs to find out... pic.twitter.com/w2xUgxK1lI
— Abbi Garton-Crosbie (@agc_reports) June 15, 2023
Ross didn’t reply, but his face said it all. The huddle then broke up amidst an awkward silence.
It was great to see readers appreciate Ross receiving challenging questions. It can be frustrating feeling he doesn't get as hard a time as many of his pro-independence Holyrood colleagues in the media.
You really have to get people like Ross in person to put them on the spot. Sometimes this is easier said than done. Unconfirmed reports suggest the linesman has previously "hidden" from me in the Parliament lifts because he knew I was going to ask him about one of his various U-turns. That's all speculative, of course.
With only two weeks left before summer recess - The National’s political team only expects it to keep getting busier. Make sure to check out our next few editions of Holyrood Weekly - and look forward to special content over the summer months.
