Macintosh shared his constituency office in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire. In the ensuing leadership election, Macintosh came second to MSP Johann Lamont. Following Scottish Labour's near wipeout at the 2015 general election, Macintosh decided to stand again for the Scottish Labour leadership, triggered by the resignation of Jim Murphy. Macintosh faced a straight two-way contest with previous deputy leader Kezia Dugdale, who won the leadership. Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament At the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, Macintosh lost the Eastwood constituency, being pushed into third place behind the Conservatives' Jackson Carlaw and the Scottish National Party's Stewart Maxwell. However, Macintosh was returned as an additional member on Scottish Labour's West Scotland regional list. On 12 May 2016, Macintosh was elected as Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament with 71 votes on the third round of voting by MSPs. He defeated Murdo Fraser, Johann Lamont, John Scott and Elaine Smith. He suspended his Scottish Labour Co-operative membership upon taking office, per the tradition of the presiding officer being strictly non-partisan. In early November 2018, Macintosh created controversy when an MSP was sent out of the Holyrood chamber for wearing a rainbow tie in support of LGBTI rights and liberation. Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh Western, was told to change the garment by Macintosh during a debate on LGBTI-inclusive education in schools. Macintosh said it flouted rules against "ostentatious campaign material" in the chamber. In September 2020, Macintosh announced that he would not stand for re-election at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. In a letter to his constituents, he said: "After much reflection, I have decided not to seek re-election to the Scottish Parliament in May next year. It has been an honour to represent the people of East Renfrewshire and the West of Scotland for the last two decades and I would thank you for the trust you have placed in me." Personal life Macintosh and his wife Claire live in Busby, East Renfrewshire with their six children. Notes References External links www.kenmacintosh.com (new website) kenmacintoshmsp.co.uk (old website) Ken Macintosh's Scottish Labour Leadership campaign site "scotlandsfuture.co.uk" |- |- 1962 births Living people People from Inverness People educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh BBC television producers Labour Co-operative MSPs Members of the Scottish Parliament 1999–2003 Members of the Scottish Parliament 2003–2007 Members of the Scottish Parliament 2007–2011 Members of the Scottish Parliament