Dave Doogan

May I, on behalf of all SNP MPs past and present who have had the tremendous good fortune to work under the guidance and tutelage of Tom as Clerk of the House, express our gratitude and support for the motion? We have been guided by Tom since 2021, when he became Principal Clerk in the Table Office, where he advised us on Opposition day topics, Brexit and the upcoming 2021 Scottish general election. In fact, certain Members of this House took issue with our use of the term “Scottish general election”, but thanks to Tom’s even-handed approach, we were able to retain those words in our motion at that time. Since he became Clerk of the House, Tom has assisted us over the years with matters of sub judice, Committee compositions, questions of order and manifold conventions within this place. Indeed, Tom’s support was so instructive, so comprehensive and so helpful to the SNP that I had no option but to conclude that he, too, must be a freedom fighter committed to the cause of Scottish independence. Accordingly, I scoured the SNP membership list to check for his entry—alas, his name appeared not. That leads me to conclude that he does not, in fact, hold the SNP in a special place within his professional courtesy and boundless knowledge. He is, rather, a committed and consummate professional who allows all Members and all parties in this place to benefit from his patient and even-handed wisdom, without fear or favour. I thank him for that, and the SNP wishes him all health and happiness in his future.