Scotland’s newest MP has said she hopes to be a role model for other minorities after being elected to Westminster.

New SNP MP Anum Qaisar-Javed also pledged she would “fight for independence” after being elected to represent the constituency of Airdrie and Shotts.

The by-election, which took place just a week after the Scottish Parliament election, was sparked by former MP Neil Gray’s decision to step down from the Commons and run for Holyrood.

After he was elected to the corresponding constituency in the Scottish Parliament last week, Ms Javed, 28, retained the seat he had held – albeit with a majority down on the 5201 held by Mr Gray in 2019.

She polled 10,129 votes, ahead of Labour candidate and local councillor Kenneth Stevenson who came in second with 8372 votes, a majority of 1757.

Conservative candidate Ben Callaghan secured 2812 votes, with Liberal Democrat Stephen Arrundale fourth with 220 votes.

Turnout in the election was 34.3%, with Ms Javed saying this was “low” but adding she was proud of the SNP’s record in the area and “proud to be elected as the MP for Airdrie and Shotts”.

Her election came as the Scottish Parliament saw its most diverse group of MSPs ever sworn in, with women of colour elected to Holyrood for the first time.

Ms Javed, a modern studies teacher, said she taught her students about the reasons why there are fewer people from minority communities in politics.

She said: “We talk about reasons such as a lack of role models, and it has taken till 2021, but now we have two women of colour in the Scottish Parliament.

“But I don’t just want women of colour to look at me, or people of colour, I want anyone from any minority group to be able to look at me and say ‘if she can do it, so can I’.”

In a speech made after votes were counted at the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell, she promised she would “fight for independence”.

She added: “The initial priority has to be the Covid recovery, we have just gone through a pandemic, people have really struggled this last year.

“And as we move through the pandemic and when the time is right, then yes of course we will be looking to campaign for another independence referendum, as is the right of people of Scotland.

“Whatever the result is of that referendum, so be it, but that choice is of paramount importance.”

A pay increase for NHS staff is to be “immediately implemented”, the Scottish Government has announced.

Following talks, a majority of NHS unions voted to accept a deal offering an average increase of 4%.

The uplift will be backdated to December 1, 2020, and will cover a period of 16 months.

It is in “recognition of an exceptional year of significant pressure for staff”, the Scottish Government said, and will be on top of the £500 thank-you payment for health and social care workers.

The increase is estimated to impact around around 154,000 employees who are covered by the ‘Agenda for Change’ NHS pay and grading system.

It includes nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals, as well as domestic staff, porters and healthcare support staff plus other front line health workers.

Staff are expected to receive the payments, including the backdated uplift, in the summer.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she is “delighted” the government is able to recognise the service and dedication of healthcare workers.

“I am delighted that unions representing a majority of NHS staff have voted to accept our offer of a pay rise of 4% on average,” said Sturgeon.

“We all rely on the hard work and dedication of NHS Scotland, and never more so than during this pandemic. This pay rise, the biggest pay uplift for NHS staff since devolution recognises the unwavering commitment of NHS Scotland staff.

“If the Department of Health sticks with the offer it has proposed, staff in Scotland will be considerably better off in 2021-22 than their counterparts in England.

“This has been an exceptionally challenging year for our health service and I am delighted that the Scottish Government has been able to recognise the service and dedication of our healthcare staff.

She added: “On behalf of us all, thank you for all you have done and for all you continue to do.”

Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur and the SNP’s Annabelle Ewing have been elected as deputy presiding officers at the Scottish Parliament.

Following several rounds of voting on Friday, MSPs elected Mr McArthur and Ms Ewing to the roles, succeeding Labour’s Lewis Macdonald and the SNP’s Linda Fabiani who did not seek re-election as MSPs.

They will assist Scottish Greens MSP Alison Johnstone who was elected as Holyrood’s presiding officer on Thursday.

Deputy presiding officers are able to act in place of the presiding officer such as chairing proceedings in the debating chamber.

Unlike Ms Johnstone, who is required to renounce her party affiliation during her term, Mr McArthur and Ms Ewing will be able to continue to support their parties.

They will also still be able to take part in parliamentary business such as speaking in debates and voting – unless they are chairing proceedings.

Alex Salmond has said his Alba Party will contest next year’s local government elections in Scotland.

While Alba failed to win any MSPs in the Scottish Parliament election last week, it does have a number of councillors across the country.

Some SNP councillors defected to join the former first minister’s new party after it launched its campaign in March. Alba has three councillors in Aberdeenshire.

The two MPs who joined Alba, Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey, represent the party at Westminster but say they will only attend the Commons when “it affords an opportunity to promote Scottish interests”.

Salmond said: “Having established ourselves, it’s now time for Alba to grow.

“There is a mandate for independence and we must see that mandate exercised.

“Our objective, because we are not an ordinary political party, is to help secure the independence of our country.

“Alba has a role, it has a significance, and that role will develop, grow and bloom over the next few years. Alba is rising.”

North Lanarkshire Alba councillor Lynne Anderson said: “Alba is here to stay.

“Our membership continues to grow because of the urgency in which we believe the case for independence should be progressed to ensure that Scotland’s recovery from coronavirus is in Scotland’s hands.

“Local communities will suffer by allowing Westminster to stay in charge of Scotland’s recovery.

“Alba has ambitious and radical plans to reduce poverty in Scotland and at next year’s local elections we will make the case for them in communities the length and breadth of Scotland.”

Alba received 1.7% of the vote across Scotland when all ballots for the Holyrood election were counted at the weekend.

Salmond has previously insisted Alba had been “vindicated” in its strategy of encouraging voters to support his party on the regional ballot, saying SNP votes are “wasted” on the list.

The president of the UN’s climate change conference has said that “every possible Covid security measure” will be explored as he confirmed plans for a physical meeting in Glasgow.

Alok Sharma said that testing, vaccines and other measures would be utilised in order to keep the COP26 summit free from the virus.

Mr Sharma, who was appointed as president of COP26 in February and was previously the UK business secretary, made the remarks in a speech delivered online on Friday.

Speaking at Whitelee wind farm outside of Glasgow, he said: “For me, it is vital that developing countries are able to sit at the same table, face-to-face, with the larger countries, the big emitters. I have always championed the need for a physical COP.

“The desire for one is what I’ve been hearing loud and clear from governments and communities around the world.

“So we are planning for a physical summit, where ensuring the safety of delegates and the local community will be paramount.”

Mr Sharma continued: “Along with our colleagues in the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, Public Health bodies and the UN, we are exploring every possible Covid security measure.

“And that includes testing, vaccines and other measures to keep COP26 Covid free.

“In due course, we will share our plans so that delegates coming to Glasgow, and indeed the whole of the British public, have confidence in COP26 going ahead safely.”

In his speech, Mr Sharma pledged that talks at the summit in November must consign coal power to history, and said that keeping to 1.5C of warming is critical.

Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell said that Mr Sharma should “get the UK Government’s house in order before lecturing others”.

He continued: “Coal is already in rapid decline and very low hanging fruit when it comes to climate policy – it drove down emissions in Scotland a decade ago, but we need to be looking beyond that now.”

Mr Ruskell added: “If you want to pick the planet, you need to pick where you invest public funds, and Alok Sharma’s government is not investing in the alternatives.

“Without putting his money where his mouth his, today’s speech is nothing more than hot air.”

MSPs are set to elect two new deputy presiding officers at the Scottish Parliament.

It comes after Scottish Greens MSP Alison Johnstone was elected to the position of presiding officer on Thursday.

She replaces Ken Macintosh, who is stepping down as an MSP, and who had held the position since 2016.

Nine MSPs are in the running for a deputy role – Clare Adamson (SNP), James Dornan (SNP), Annabelle Ewing (SNP), Stewart McMillan (SNP), Jeremy Balfour (Scottish Conservatives), Edward Mountain (Scottish Conservatives), Clare Baker (Scottish Labour), Rhoda Grant (Scottish Labour), and Liam McArthur (Scottish Liberal Democrats).

Each position is voted for individually, with MSPs needing a simple majority to be elected.

The role carries with it the same duties when acting in place of the presiding officer, such as chairing proceedings in the debating chamber.

However, unlike the presiding officer who has to renounce their party affiliation during their term, they are able to continue to support their party.

Another difference in the position from the presiding officer role is that they will still be able to take part in parliamentary business such as speaking in debates and voting – unless they are chairing proceedings.

The results of the election are expected to be announced on Friday afternoon.

Scottish Greens MSP Alison Johnstone has been elected as the new presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Johnstone replaces Ken Macintosh, who is stepping down as an MSP having held the position since 2016.

She is currently an MSP for the Lothian region and was previously the co-leader of the Scottish Greens alongside Patrick Harvie.

The presiding officer at Holyrood is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of debates and is expected to be strictly non-partisan.

It means that Ms Johnstone, who was the only candidate for the position, will have to renounce affiliation with her party for the duration of her term.

Presiding officers do not take part in debates and do not vote, except to break ties.

Conventionally, a presiding officer will use their tie-breaking vote in favour of advancing debate, but on final ballots, will vote to retain the status quo.

Following her election, Ms Johnstone becomes the sixth presiding officer in the history of the Scottish Parliament, following Mr Macintosh, Tricia Marwick (2011-2016), Alex Fergusson (2007-2011), George Reid (2003-2007) and David Steel (1999-2003).

Commenting on the election, Scottish Greens co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater said: “We congratulate Alison Johnstone on her election, and we are confident that she will be an even-handed moderator as Parliament addresses the pressing challenges that Scotland faces over the next five years.”

A county court judgment against Boris Johnson for a debt of £535 was issued over a claim of defamation, it has emerged.

Downing Street said the debt claim against the Prime Minister was “totally without merit” as an application was being lodged in an attempt to strike it out.

Official records showed an “unsatisfied record” for the unpaid debt was registered to Johnson at “10 Downing Street”, with the judgment dated October 26 last year.

An additional file shows the claim was made by a claimant named Yvonne Hobbs against “The Rt Hon Boris Johnson”.

The reasons cited for the claim were “defamation” and “committed repeated defamation”.

The judgment, first reported by Private Eye magazine, raised eyebrows as it was dated during a key period concerning questions over the Prime Minister’s controversial refurbishment to his flat in No 11.

But a Number 10 spokeswoman said: “An application will be made for an order to set aside the default judgment, to strike out the claim and for a declaration that the claim is totally without merit.”

Downing Street earlier appeared unaware of the judgment but officials insisted it is not linked to the flat renovation, which the Electoral Commission is investigating to ascertain whether any donations were properly declared.

“I have seen that report, we are looking into this issue,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

“I can confirm it is nothing to do with the refurbishment of the Downing Street estate, where all such bills have been duly paid either by the Government or the Prime Minister personally.”

The judgment was issued in the county court at the Online Civil Money Claims service.

The Government website says: “If you get a judgment, this means that the court has formally decided that you owe the money.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scotland’s other party leaders have been sworn in as MSPs.

Returning and new members of the Scottish Parliament were sworn in on Thursday morning following last week’s Holyrood election.

Outgoing Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh, who decided not to stand in the election, ran proceedings, which require MSPs to pledge their allegiance to the Queen before they are allowed to undertake any parliamentary duties or receive their MSP salary.

If the oath or affirmation is not taken within two months, they will lose their seat.

The First Minister made an affirmation, followed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar taking the oath.

Beforehand, Sturgeon said the SNP “pledges loyalty to the people of Scotland in line with the Scottish constitutional tradition of the sovereignty of the people”.

Ahead of his affirmation, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said he wanted to reassert that his party’s “allegiance lies with the people of Scotland who elected this Parliament and who are sovereign, and we look forward to the day when they can choose their own elected head of state”.

His fellow Greens co-leader Lorna Slater also chose to affirm.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie was the last party leader to be sworn in and he took the oath.

The rest of the MSPs are being sworn in in alphabetical order.

Ariane Burgess, who gave her affirmation in Gaelic, said beforehand she believes “the people of Scotland are sovereign”.

A number of MSPs will take their oath in a language other than English, including Scots, Gaelic, Urdu, Orcadian, Doric and even, in the case of Zimbabwe-born North East Green MSP Maggie Chapman, Zimbabwean Shona.

The oath will be followed by the election of the new Presiding Officer, who will take charge of proceedings in Parliament for the next five years.

No MSP has yet signalled their intent publicly to stand for the position, which requires elected members to renounce their party affiliation and act cross-party for the duration.

Parliamentary arithmetic could prevent some MSPs from putting themselves forward for the position, given the SNP is just one seat short of a majority.

If the SNP puts someone forward, it would drop further away from the 65 MSPs needed to pass legislation on its own – whereas the chamber would be tied if an opposition MSP takes the role.

Friday will see the election of deputy presiding officers, who do not have to relinquish their party affiliation.

Scotland’s MSPs will be sworn in on Thursday, kicking off a new parliamentary term.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will be first to take her oath, as a result of leading the largest party, followed by her fellow party leaders.

Outgoing Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh, who decided not to stand in last week’s election, will run the proceedings, which require MSPs to pledge their allegiance to the Queen before they are allowed to undertake any parliamentary duties or receive their MSP salary. If the oath or affirmation is not taken within two months, they will then lose their seat.

A number of MSPs have signalled they will take their oath in a language other than English, with some expected to speak in Scots, Gaelic, Urdu, Orcadian, Doric and even, in the case of Zimbabwe-born North East Green MSP Maggie Chapman, Zimbabwean Shona.

The oath will be followed by the election of the new presiding officer, who will take charge of proceedings for the next five years.

No MSP has yet signalled their intent publicly to stand for the position, which requires elected members to renounce their party affiliation and act cross-party for the duration.

Parliamentary arithmetic could prevent some MSPs from putting themselves forward for the position, given the SNP is just one seat short of a majority.

If the SNP puts someone forward, it would drop further away from the 65 MSPs needed to pass legislation on its own – whereas the chamber would be tied if an opposition MSP takes the role.

Friday will see the election of deputy presiding officers, who do not have to relinquish their party affiliation.