A guide to how MSPs voted during business in the main chamber of the Scottish Parliament.

A guide to how MSPs voted during business in the main chamber of the Scottish Parliament.

South Africa's World Cup organisers pay tribute to Charles Dempsey, whose abstention denied them the tournament in 2006.

Charles Dempsey, the man whose abstention handed Germany the World Cup in 2006 ahead of South Africa, has died aged 86.

Ex-Tory Chancellor Lord Lamont advises David Cameron against taking on the party's right.

What happens when MPs can't make up their minds? They vote yes and no...

Ministers confirm they will press ahead with plans to put CalMac ferry routes out to tender.

Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne criticises clubs for abstaining on the SPL promotion vote.

The Israeli prime minister narrowly wins Knesset backing for his government despite right-wing abstentions.

Pakistani papers welcome the government's announcement that it will not support an attack on Iraq, but interpret the proposed abstention in any vote on a second UN resolution with varying shades of enthusiasm.

A Conservative councillor abstains from voting, leading to a council tax rise of 15% in Swindon.

Tom McKinley examines attitudes to drinking in Sierra Leone, from abstention to binge drinking, for Africa Live!

Proposals to add a "none of the above" box on ballot papers in an effort to boost election turnouts come under fire from all sides.

Everyone in France - even the left - is expecting the conservatives to win the forthcoming legislative elections, writes Hugh Schofield.

Media giant Vivendi calls a new shareholder meeting after discovering evidence of vote-fixing at its last investor conference.

NI Secretary John Reid says he is hopeful Sinn Fein's MPs will end their Westminster abstention policy after they are allocated offices.

Oceania's Fifa delegate is asked to explain his reasons for abstaining in the final round of voting to decide the 2006 World Cup hosts.

Two-thirds of Scottish MPs at Westminster say they will vote on a bill to ban fox hunting, despite Tory calls for them to abstain.

Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe has admitted she is now the owner of a television after years of abstention.