The Scottish socialists promised to bring "madness and craziness" to Holyrood - and from day one, they've got tongues wagging.

It's not because of their style of politics though, it's more to do with the dress style of Glasgow list MSP Rosie Kane, whose colourful blouse and jeans have provoked a mixture of reactions.

She's told BBC Scotland that she simply dressed to go to work and was not making a political statement of any kind.

We asked if you think there should there be a formal dress code for the Scottish Parliament or if the business of the day is more important than the clothes worn by MSPs.

Time and time again say that politicians are out of touch with the people... perhaps the fact that most of them can never be seen in anything but a suit is why. Well done Rosie!
James McEnaney, Scotland

I think her comment "I've got some belters of blouses, wait until you see them" suggest to me she's more concerned about what she wears and people seeing it, than her job and her impact on the Scottish Parliament. Bring on the rainbows I say, as long as she does her job, and doesn't spend more time picking out her wardrobe.
Amanda, Scotland

This focus on what a woman looks like instead of what she's saying is deeply sad and it's no coincidence she is a woman. Yet again, the pathetic Scots media steers resolutely away from any kind of reasoned debate.
Jay, Scotland

Politics is not about dress sense, it's about doing the best you can for those who put you in office. So, if Rosie gets on with the job, does it well and remains accountable to her electorate, who are we to tell her what to wear.
Alan S, Scot

Isn't it sad that so many people have been indoctrinated with formality? Has it never occured that suit makers are making a fortune out of us, for no reason at all? I believe in liberty, abolish all dress codes, hats off to Rosie. May I remind people that one in three children still grows up in poverty, surely tackling that is more important than what someone wears. What on earth is an image consultant anyway? Do they have them in Ethiopa? We will know that our society is progressing when there are less of these occupations and more nurses, teachers, care workers etc.
Stephen McMurray, Edinburgh

This is what we need, more working class people. Wait till you see her in action. She will run rings round them. Good luck, hope we have more of the SSP in 2007.
Brian, Scotland

Good on you, Rosie!! The fact that the oath is a piece of old archaic nonsense should not detract you from your politics - that is the serious war on poverty, the scrapping of the council tax and the other measures in the SSP manifesto. For too long we have been rules by suits, worn by corrupt and anti-working class MSPs and MPs. More power to your elbow, grrl
Sean, Scotland

Rosie "Citizen" Kane's sartorial sense mirrors her party's absurd policies. Both are about pandering to the lowest common denominator, instead of trying to raise it.
Chas, Scotland

Disgraceful. She appeared as a recalcitrant school-brat craving attention through performance, highlighting her ignorance of the gravity of her position. Her attire was a perfect reflection of the depths that this parliament has sunk to. If Rosie Kane is an example of the new breed of MSP Scotland will be the lesser.
Euan, Scotland

The complaints of "childish" and "improper" dress merely reflect middle-class attitudes and social mores to which we are all expected to conform. It's about time working-class people started to challenge these even if the middle-class can only understand it in terms of "stunts" or "childish behaviour". I mean, when are educated, grown-up men going to stop dangling a ridiculous piece of cloth round their necks?
Craig, Scotland

It's hardly surprising Scotland's economy is in a perpetual state of decline if the average Scot cares more about what people wear to work than how well they do their job when they get there. I find the irksome oath of allegiance far more disrespectful of Scottish cultural tradition than a colourful blouse and a pair of jeans!
Neil Gall, Scotland

Why does anyone who represents a different view (whether you support them or not) get savaged as soon as they step out of (the stagnant conventional) line. Who cares what she wears, let's see what she does. Democracy in Britain is in tatters, let the people be represented in whatever "fashion" it may be.
Chris, Scotland

Good on her! I think she looked terrific and I Iook forward to a bit of a shake-up in the corridors of power. As an ex-teacher who battled for years to be allowed to wear trousers in school, my opinion is that there are too many "stuffed shirts" around in Scotland. Don't let them get you down Rosie!
Caroline, Scotland

We could do with more Rosies in English politics. Well done SSP from a Labour Party member in London.
Andrew, England

What's all the fuss about? Is there a law that says New Labour must wear suits while they're decimating our public services or calling our firefighters "fascists"? And why can't decent anti-monarchists protest about an oath that's hundreds of years out of date without right-wing (but suited) yobs in the press going on about their disgust at "jeans and off the shoulder tops" at Holyrood? Is this not a democracy? What has dress sense got to do with policy making? The fact that the SSP are being attacked before the parliament has even sat properly speaks volumes about whose side the press are on. The people voted for the SSP precisely because they're bored with the old politics.
Simon, Scotland

I abhor SSP politics, but if MSP Rosie Kane wants to attend the Scottish Parliament informally dressed, then good luck to her. Frankly, some of her critics need to waken up to why so many don't bother to vote (I did, by the way - not for her party). I'd feel happier if this parliament can show more care in the use of our money - which the last parliament conspicuously failed to do when overseeing the building of the new parliament building - that is the real scandal!
Bill, Scotland

Rosie is not an employee, she is an elected representative sent to parliament by the people of Glasgow. As such, she has earned the right to wear and say anything she likes within reason. She'll be happy, no doubt, that we are all focussing on her faded jeans rather than her outdated, damaging policies.
Tommy, Scotland

At 41 (and 13 years older than me so this isn't some old wifie talking) Rosie Kane still has some growing up to do. Her choice of outfit shows a complete lack of respect for the job and, I suspect, was a cheap publicity stunt for her own gain. I could forgive the blouse but to turn up in jeans makes her look like a rebellious teenager and not a respectable, responsible MSP. Yeah, the SSP might add some colour to the Parliament but please don't turn it into a bigger joke than it already is.
Karen, Scotland

I think that the SSP are a joke and their antics in the parliament yesterday confirmed my suspicions. Their manifesto was clearly written without the use of a calculator and their ill-advised attempts to contaminate the political process will yield little reward. If they want to be taken seriously (and this applies to the Greens and Independents) they had better learn that what Scotland wants is an efficient and effective parliament that delivers progress for this country and its people. Not a puppet show marauding in fancy dress!
Mark Cummings, Scotland, UK

I don't like her dress sense or a lot of what she says but she has a right to express both. They are both within the realms of reasonableness. Style and fashion change over years and if our representatives did not reflect that then MSPs would end up like our sheriffs, judges and advocates who have to wear wigs and robes left over from Georgian times. What is archaic is the requirement to say an oath or affirmation which is a remnant of feudal times. It is clear that sovereignty lies in practice as well as in law with the people of Scotland and no-one else. I speak as a suit wearing lawyer!
Alisdair Matheson, Scotland

Surely if Rosie Kane wants to dress like her "people" she would have been better wearing a shell suit tucked into her white socks and trainers?
Fraser, Edinburgh

I think that not dressing appropriately is an insult to the parliament. You spend that long trying to get a parliament for the country and then treat it with that amount of respect. Maybe the next time I have a job interview I'll turn up in jeans and we'll see how much respect they feel I'm paying their company.
David, Scotland

This debate, not Rosie's clothes, is typical of the cheapening of serious political issues of Scotland. Only 25% of Scots want a monarchy so isn't the real issue whether the oath of allegiance should be changed to allegiance of the community of the realm of Scotland? All the SNP and Green MSPs and a number of Labour ones are uncomfortable about the oath, as well as the SSP so focussing on Rosie's jeans (and she wasn't the only one in jeans) is itself a trivialisation of Scottish polity.
Sara, Scotland

Whilst I do not share the political views of Ms Kane and her SSP colleagues I do tend to agree with her sentiments on this occasion. She is representing a view which overall I do not share but parliament and parliamentarians have to be seen as being part of the people whom they say they represent. I certainly would never dress in this fashion for a formal occasion but provided it was done for the right reasons i.e. not just as a publicity stunt then I admire her for having the courage of her convictions.
John McKinnon, Scotland

I have no problems with people dressing comfortably. But on the bigger occasions such as the swearing in ceremony appropriate clothing should be worn. MSPs must also remember that sometimes bad news hits us and they must make comment. Someone in jeans and a T-shirt may not convey the mood required.
Jim McMahon, Scotland

Everyone is whinging on about how young people are not voting. Are they not more likely to connect to people dressed normally rather than old stuffed shirts? She looked fine.
Maggie, Scotland

The business of governing a country should be carried out by professional and committed MSPs therefore they should behave and dress in a professional manner. It is an insult to the people of Scotland if their representatives do not take their role seriously
A. Sneddon, Scotland

I'm sorry Rosie but parliament is far too serious for childish antics and inappropriate dress. The people of Scotland lay down their lives for politicians, they lose their jobs over decisions made by politicians, they also pay taxes for the pleasure. So unless Scotland has completely gone mad let's have some commonsense, some dignity and some respect for our parliament.
Adam, Scotland

Whether intended or not (...and I find the latter hard to believe), I think Rosie's decision to dress as she did blew a gale or much needed fresh air through an normally stale atmosphere.
Joe Brown, Scotland, Aberdeen

What an absolute farce! If the SSP want to be treated as a serious and respectable political party, then perhaps they should start acting like one. One wonders what carnage will ensue when the formal business of parliament begins.
Ross, Scotland

More media attention seems to have been paid to the blouse Rosie wore than anything else yesterday - frankly this looks like the first of a four-year stretch of the SSP punching above their weight in terms of press attention. Anyway, she looks smarter in jeans than most MSPs look in suits - for Pete's sake, wait for policies to emerge before deciding she's a bad 'un.
Sara, Edinburgh, Scotland

So long as the dress sense doesn't end up with miniskirts and white stilettos, I don't mind. Nobody seemed to object to Thatcher's appalling hairstyles and headache-inducing bright blue suits
Dan Mitchell, England

Don't agree with most of her politics, but we should be more concerned with this silly oath of allegiance then what clothes an elected representive wears.Fair play to her.
Dave Scott, Ireland

The lady certainly was not making a political statement, in fact she was not making any statement at all. All that can be said is that never mind it being parliament and an insult to everyone around her. Mere attention seeking and for her own benefit, nobody else's. There should not need to be a formal dress code, but then it is probably too much to expect that people behave and dress sensibly in any walk of life. Ignore her and with a bit of luck she will go away - just before the voters do it for her - we hope.
Bill, United Kingdom

Rosie looks like the people I see when I look out of my window, when I go shopping, when I walk on the street. She is elected by working class people to represent us. In that sense she has begun better than her comrades, the very smartly dressed Tommy Sheridan and Colin Fox. Sheridan is regarded as the most popular politician in Scotland. I think he is about to be ousted by one of his own clan. Rosie can represent me anytime.
Steve Masterson, Glasgow

As somebody who voted SSP across the board, I'm pleased already that they are delivering. I can't believe people are making an issue of what Rosie was wearing yesterday. "You shouldn't judge a book by it's cover" so it's not right to judge a person by what they wear. Anybody in the Scottish Parliament should be able to wear whatever they want. After all I thought this was a democracy.
Mark, Scotland

It's a bit sad when the judgement is on how you look, as opposed to what you do. She could be the best MSP in there for all we know. I think it is a poor reflection on everyone else, not her. She was voted by the people of her constituency on who she was - she shouldn't have to suddenly conform to other peoples views on how she should look!
Bob, Scotland

Not sure how challenging the dress code for parliament or who the oath is sworn to will help address Scotland's most significant issue - how do they pay for the spending spree they embarked upon, whether it will be a white elephant of a building or rising social costs? I suppose they find it more amusing than trying to work out how to generate the wealth they are spending.
Bruce Morris, Scotland

The behaviour in parliament yesterday was disgraceful. Would Rosie Kane dress like that to attend a funeral? Occasions demand appropriate dress and yesterday was not the time for such childlish displays. Once again the parliament in Edinburgh has turned itself into a laughing stock.
Jane Middleton, Glasgow

What a load of old tosh. She should wear what she likes. Scotland is dour enough and she is not going to a funeral. One waits with bated breath
Mark Dixon, Germany

I thought the whole point of MSP's were that they were supposed to represent those how elected them in parliament. When he was elected Bill Clinton promised to deliver an administration that looked like America. For the first time we have some politicians like look like the vast majority of the Scottish people.
Alan Johnstone, Glasgow, Scotland

I think she looks great. Someone in the Scottish parliament who looks like your sister or your pal. It is about time politcians connected with the people they represent, instead of distancing themselves. Rosie Kane looks approachable and welcoming - you go girl.
Jennifer, Glasgow, Scotland

The dress and performance of Rosie Kane MSP in Parliament yesterday epitomised exactly what was wrong with politics in the New Scotland. No wonder the voters are turning off in their droves as Kane et al indulge in such opportunistic publicity stunts. Another four years of this and emigration will seem like the best option.
Jonathan Galbraith, Scotland, United Kingdom <

Jonathan Galbraith will emigrate if Rosie et al keep this up? C'mon Rosie, keep it up!
Simon, Scotland, Europe

I don't agree with strict dress codes but the way you dress to work is generally an outward display of your attitude to that work. Rosie's "couldnt care less" attitude towards dress standards will no doubt become apparent in other areas.
Ramon, Scotland

Ramon's right. The way you dress might well indicate your attitude. Rosie Kane's style of dress indicates that she feels she's been elected to represent working-class voters in an unpretentious and accessible way. Good luck to her.
Kate, Scotland