When I am in the Scottish Parliament chamber, I often feel the need to sit for the entire debate. It's only courteous to listen to what everyone has to say, although I often find myself desperate to say something but too scared to stand up in case I regret it.

This effectively ended her chances of being elected as an SNP MSP and Margo MacDonald decided to stand as an independent. Her daughter Petra is married to one half of The Proclaimers Craig Reid and they have four children (Rosanne Lena Peter and John). She began to establish herself as a forceful presenter of various radio and television programmes including the short-lived Colour Supplement for Radio 4 in the mid-1980s.

She is now an Independent Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Lothian region.