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The first female Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament turned down an honour from The Queen, The Courier can reveal.

Tricia Marwick, who stepped down as the MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes ahead of May’s Holyrood election, declined an invitation from a senior Conservative politician to allow her name to be put forward for a gong.

The former SNP member who has always opposed Royal honours, said the system has been “devalued” by certain awards in recent years.

Calls have been made in recent weeks for Sir Philip Green, the retail tycoon, to return his knighthood if he does not pay back dividends received from BHS when he owned the stores chain following its collapse.

Ms Marwick said : “I understand that the UK government wished to ensure that the first female Presiding Officer was recognised in the Honours list. I declined.

“I do not criticise those who accept an honour. That is a matter for each individual and I understand the great joy and pride it can bring.

“However, it is not for me. I would be a hypocrite to now accept an honour when I have opposed the honours system all my life.

“Further, in recent years it has become devalued by some of those who have been recipients.

“I have had many meaningful honours in my life. To be one of the first MSPs when our Parliament was reconvened in 1999, to be elected as MSP for my home constituency of Central Fife and then to serve as the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament.

“That is recognition and honour enough for me. I have no need for further rewards or honours.”

Her predecessor as PO, Alex Fergusson, who retired as a Conservative MSP at the end of last term, has been given a knighthood for services to politics, the Scottish Parliamentary process and public life in Scotland.