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Tory MSP Alex Fergusson is front runner to be Presiding Officer at Holyrood after his party relented and allowed him to stand.

George Reid will serve in the role for the last time on Monday as his successor is elected by secret ballot. The only other candidate so far is Margo MacDonald, the veteran nationalist turned Independent, who has offered to serve for a year to break the current impasse.

The Conservatives had felt angry at the perception they were being bounced into providing a candidate. Annabel Goldie ruled herself out, then appointed David McLetchie, her predecessor as party leader, as chief whip, narrowing the options.

But yesterday she relented and gave her blessing to Mr Fergusson. Cross-party colleagues had been queueing up all week to praise his suitability, citing him as one of the most outstandingly fair and efficient committee conveners in the parliament.

The SNP minority government likely to be elected under Alex Salmond next Wednesday will need a degree of protection against obvious wrecking tactics if it is to run the country.

But the pro-Union majority will also look for support if the SNP acts outwith its statutory powers to pick fights with Westminster. In both these scenarios, Mr Fergusson could be expected to be scrupulously fair.

He also has a real political base, having fought off an SNP challenge and increased his majority in Galloway and Upper Nithsdale last week.

He said yesterday: "I have been both flattered and humbled by the number of colleagues of all parties who have urged me to take this step, but my first duty was to ensure my service to my constituents would not suffer as a consequence of being elected to the post."

12:42am Saturday 12th May 2007

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