Equality at last

Tonight's vote in the Scottish Parliament on equal marriage was very moving.

When the Presiding Officer announced that the Bill had passed by 105 votes to 18 there was the usual round of applause from members : usual because that is what happens when a bill passes its final stage. But then the applause was taken up in the crowded public gallery and slowly people in the gallery and members on the floor of the Parliament began to get to their feet.

That resulted in something unique in the albeit short history of this Parliament ; members facing the people and each applauding the other. The Presiding Officer very wisely just allowed it to take its course - a spontaneous celebration which was emotional and emotive . In truth I quickly felt sorry for those few who had not voted for the bill and who had to sit silent.

Later Alex Neil - who had piloted the Bill through the Parliament and whose summing up today was exceptional - Nicola Sturgeon , Joe Fttzpatrick (the Minister for Parliamentary Business ) and I dropped into the bar where celebrations were taking place.

It was a good day for Scotland and a good night was being had by all, marked by a cake which was being cut just out of shot .