This is the last day of the Scottish Parliament before the Holyrood election on 7 May
Some 42 MSPs - a third of the total - will walk out of the building for the last time as elected members at close of business
MSPs delivered a motion of thanks to Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone and the departing MSPs
That brings our live coverage from Holyrood to a close for the day.
Today's editor was Paul McLaren and the writers were Craig Hutchison, Claire Thomson and Paul Hastie.
Thanks for being with us.
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
There will be more farewells than ever before at Holyrood this afternoon.
More than 40 MSPs are standing down - almost a third of the total, and a new record.
It includes two former first ministers, two former opposition party leaders and five sitting cabinet ministers.
There are eight from the "class of 1999" who have had a lengthy run in parliament - but also 10 first-term MSPs, first elected in 2021.
And when you factor in the possibility of members losing their seats, as is entirely possible given how polls have shifted for some parties since 2021, we could easily see 50 or 60 of them leaving the chamber for the final time this afternoon.
Holyrood is set to look very different when it next sits again, on 12 May - regardless of the election result.
Image source, Scottish Parliament TVFinally, Alison Johnstone begins by joking it's so much easier when people aren't saying nice things about your when you're in the presiding officer's chair.
She also pays tribute to Christina McKelvie, who died aged 57 during this session, and others who are mourning lost loved ones over the last five years.
She says it has been an immense honour and a profound privilege to carry out the role and she pays tribute to the deputy presiding officers, Annabelle Ewing and Liam McArthur.
Johnstone, who is stepping down before the election, adds: "Parliament belongs to the people of Scotland and all must be heard."
She concludes by closing Session 6 of the parliament and receives warm applause from across the chamber.
Image source, Scottish Parliament TVIt's now the turn of the opposition party leaders, beginning with Russell Findlay who says, unlike FMQs earlier today, all we will hear are "warm words and a soothing tone".
The Scottish Tory leader thanks the presiding officers and all the staff at the Scottish Parliament and then all MSPs who are standing down.
Image source, Scottish Parliament TVNext up is Anas Sarwar, who supports the motion and echoes all of the FM's comments too.
The Scottish Labour leader says to the departing MSPs: "Every time I've met a retired politician they always look 10 years younger."
Image source, Scottish Parliament TVGillian Mackay tells the chamber: "I can't not mention the wonderful Christina McKelvie, not having her light and laugh in this chamber has undoubtedly made it a poorer place for us all."
The Scottish Greens co-leader gives a warm thank you to Nicola Sturgeon for bringing the Greens into government, and then a wry, brief "good luck" to Humza Yousaf. This is met with much laughter following his breaking of the Bute House Agreement. She quickly says she's just joking.
There follows a very fulsome thank you for Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, who of course was a Green MSP before taking on the challenging role.
Image source, Scottish Parliament TVAlex Cole-Hamilton says there is a poignancy about today, lamenting the loss of Jeane Freeman, Jim Wallace and of course Christina McKelvie.
The Scottish Lib Dem leader also goes through a long list of thanks, particularly to the parliament's broadcasting unit which includes his brother Nick who he says has had the Sword of Damocles over him as he has the power to mute his microphone.
Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Image source, Scottish Parliament TVAlison Johnstone struggled to hold back the tears
Green co-leader Gillian Mackay began her political career as a staffer for Alison Johnstone, who in turn started off her Parliamentary career working for the first ever Green MSP Robin Harper.
That helps explain the affection of the tributes to the outgoing PO, with both women struggling to hold back tears.
Image source, Scottish Parliament TVGillian Mackay spoke of her close personal relationship with the presiding officer
Image source, scottish parliament tvJohn Swinney paid tribute to Nicola Sturgeon
John Swinney extends his thanks to the presiding officer and the deputy presiding officers.
The first minister says this has been a demanding session and the presiding officers have acted effectively. He praises them for their "outstanding service".
This is met with warm applause across the chamber.
The FM turns to the departing MSPs and he pays particular tribute to Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf and his current and former ministers.
He also makes mention of Christina McKelvie who announced her intention to stand down before her sad death last year.
"To all of those stepping down, I extend my warmest wishes."
Image source, Getty ImagesNicola Sturgeon and Shona Robison have been close friends throughout their careers
Several of those who are standing down have simply come to the end of their political careers, having first been elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
Indeed, just five MSPs who were present at the dawn of devolution are standing again.
First Minister John Swinney, Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie, ex-SNP minister and now independent candidate Fergus Ewing, Labour's Pauline McNeill and the SNP's Kenny Gibson will all seek another term at Holyrood.
But ministerial colleagues Shona Robison, Fiona Hyslop and Richard Lochhead are among the original intake who have decided to call it a day.
First Minister John Swinney has joined his SNP colleagues on the front bench and we're gearing up for his Motion of Thanks , externalshortly.
Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, external is among the third of MSPs who will not run for another term.
The motion also thanks Deputy Presiding Officers Annabelle Ewing and Liam McArthur.
It also pays tribute to all of the MSPs who are standing down.
You can follow events from the Holyrood chamber by clicking on the Watch live icon at the top of this page.
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Scottish Labour
Scottish Conservative
Independent
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent
If you remember when this term first started, we were still dealing with Covid.
We've had three first ministers. The Greens have been in and out of government.
We've had the whole Operation Branchform saga, various controversies about iPad bills and secret cameras in toilets.
We've had the death of Alex Salmond, the gender reform legislation that was blocked, the national care service that was abandoned, the deposit return scheme that was scrapped.
We've had hate crime legislation, abortion buffer zones, just last week assisted dying was voted down.
It has been a really busy five-year spell.
Listen to more from Radio Scotland Breakfast.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes
Some of those standing down are relatively young.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes is leaving because of the struggles of juggling motherhood with a ministerial job and an office that's more than three hours from home.
When she announced her decision to quit, she said she didn't want to "miss any more of the precious early years of family life".
Her daughter will be four this summer.
"Every day has felt like an exercise in logistical impossibilities and we got through it.
"It was like this epiphany and this bolt from the blue that I didn't have to.
"I had choices I could make."
She is choosing a life outside of politics.
Image source, Getty ImagesChristine Grahame, 81, was often the heart and soul of the Parliament
At 81, it's perhaps not surprising that Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame is retiring.
She is regularly captured by the TV cameras sitting behind the first minister at FMQs.
It's a deliberate strategy she picked up from watching one of her MP colleagues.
"I realised he was making sure he was in direct camera line and I worked out that's what to do."
Her constituents think it's her seat, but she admits: "It's only my seat because I'm there early enough to nab it."
Grahame recommends politicians build cross-party relationships.
"In the chamber you play the ball, not the man. That's always my motto. Go for the argument. Don't go for anyone else. Outside the chamber, we're people.
Christine Graham sits behind First Minister John Swinney in her regular seat in Holyrood
Image source, Getty ImagesRichard Leonard was Scottish Labour leader for four years
Richard Leonard, who led Scottish Labour between 2017 and 2021, will continue to campaign for a "more democratic, more equal, socialist society" from outside parliament.
Douglas Ross, who resigned as Conservative leader during the last Westminster election campaign, is seeking a return to the House of Commons.
He has enjoyed ruffling feathers during his time at Holyrood.
"Part of the role of an opposition politician is not to make it easy for the government."
The Highlands and Islands MSP has spent 18 months as convener of Holyrood's education committee, where he led scrutiny of Dundee University's financial woes.
"I completely understand and accept that my style is not universally popular, but I think it has shown some people that you can have committees that are robust and agile to emerging issues.
"I think our committees here need to up their game a bit."
Image source, PA MediaDouglas Ross was never afraid to "ruffle feathers" at Holyrood
Image source, PA MediaSarah Boyack, front right, served in Donald Dewar's cabinet in 1999 as Transport minister.
The Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack was in Donald Dewar's first cabinet as transport minister.
When she leaves Parliament 27 years later, she'll act as a mentor for new MSPs after the election and will tell them not to underestimate what can be achieved.
"If you're in government, you can make a difference every single day you're in this parliament.
"In opposition, you've got to work really hard, but you can still make progress."
Image source, PAHumza Yousaf, pictured during his time as first minister, admits the general election would have seen him resign, had he stayed in office
During last week's assisted dying debate, Humza Yousaf observed that "less whipping" in the parliament might be a good thing.
He paid tribute to the quality of the speeches made on the basis of personal opinion rather than party political doctrine.
Yousaf admits he would have liked to have been first minister for longer than the 14 months he survived in post.
The former SNP leader has some projects lined up at home and abroad and is writing a book about the four weeks his in-laws spent trapped in Gaza.
Yousaf recalled having to endure a bruising First Minister's Questions over Covid Whatsapp messages, just minutes after learning his wife's parents had been refused access to a flight to safety.
That has taught him "not to sweat the small stuff".
Image source, PAThe Motion of Thanks is for Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, her deputies and departing MSPs
Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, external is among the third of MSPs who will not run for another term.
Johnstone has been the presiding officer since 2021. Elected as a member of the Scottish Greens, she relinquished her party affiliation to take up the independent role. She has been an MSP for the Lothian region since 2011.
First Minister John Swinney has submitted the Motion of Thanks for the presiding officer, thanking her for "her dedicated service to the parliament and also thanking the deputy presiding officers.
It also pays tribute to all of the MSPs who are standing down.
Image source, PAPresiding Officer Alison Johnstone will stay in post until the batch of new MSPs are sworn in after the election
Johnstone remains in office as PO until her successor is elected and will be in the chair as the new cohort of MSPs are sworn in.
The PO is impartial in their role. Their responsibilities include:
Nicola Sturgeon on her campaign to improve the rights of trans people
The biggest name who will be saying goodbye to Holyrood this afternoon is, of course, Nicola Sturgeon.
The former first minister has denied that she spent too much political capital on efforts to make it easier for people to change their legally recognised sex.
Sturgeon, who is stepping down this week after 27 years as an MSP, reflected on the heated debate about gender reforms during a wide-ranging interview with BBC Scotland News.
She described any suggestion that she had become "obsessed" with the issue as "nonsense", while reaffirming her support for the trans community.
Sturgeon also said she was "contented" and "at peace" with her decision to quit politics.
If you're just joining us, this five-year session of the Scottish Parliament will draw to a close with MSPs delivering a motion of thanks to Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone and the more than 40 MSPs who will be standing down at the election in May.
Some have said they are stepping away with relief, some with regret, and some with a sense of unfinished business.
Ahead of the official tribute at Holyrood, which you can Watch live with us from about 16:15, let's look at some of the biggest departing names and their reasons for going.
We're resuming our live coverage of the final day of the parliamentary session before the Holyrood election on 7 May.
That brings to an end the final First Minister's Questions before the election on 7 May.
Here are the key lines that emerged from the session:
We're going to pause our live coverage, but will return to cover the motion of thanks to Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone and all the departing MSPs as the parliamentary term comes to an end. That's due to start at about 16:15 but we'll start up well before then.
The editor for FMQs was Paul McLaren. The writers were Craig Hutchison, Claire Thomson and Paul Hastie. Thanks for joining us.
