Newly returned MSP and strident campaigner for justice in the Pan Am 103 debacle, Christine Grahame, has declared her candidacy for the role of Presiding Officer at Holyrood.

She would be the first woman to occupy the chair following predecessors David Steel, George Reid and incumbent Alex Fergusson.

“I am known in Parliament as an independent-minded backbencher and that is the same way I would approach the task of presiding officer," she said in a statement.

"I have the experience to do the job, having been an MSP since 1999 and having chaired three committees in that time.

“Parliament needs to be a forum for robust, lively and interesting exchanges, and, if elected as presiding officer, I would ensure that backbenchers have more of a say and also look at ways of making debates more interesting and relevant.”

Grahame has enjoyed the tacit support of First Minister Alex Salmond and has campaigned to seek justice and an independent inquiry into the case of the Lockerbie convict Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.

The Presiding Officer will be selected when Parliament reconvenes tomorrow. No other candidates have formally come forward at the time of publication.