By Steve Bargeton, political editor

NEWLY-ELECTED MSPs stood shoulder-to-shoulder yesterday to express a nation’s concern for missing girl Madeleine McCann.

Maddy’s uncle and aunt, John and Philomena McCann, came to Holyrood to draw support.

Mr McCann urged Scots politicians to help in the hunt for his niece.

He said his brother, Gerry, is keeping strong but admitted Maddy’s mother Kate is “shattered” by the strain.

“Gerry says he’s ready for a marathon,” he said.

“We hope it’s not going to be a marathon.

“We would love nothing better than for it to stop tomorrow and for Madeleine to come back but we are going to pull in all the contacts, all the resources we need.

“There are more things to be done. That’s why we are here today.

“We are hoping that you politicians can use the same resourcefulness, the same degree of ingenuity that our friends and contacts have to help.”

First Minister Jack McConnell said, “I speak on behalf of all parties here today.

“It’s a day when we put aside party politics to highlight this very important problem.

“There is considerable work to be done to raise the profile of Maddy’s disappearance in Spain and Portugal and across Europe.

“As the family and friends do so much to help the ongoing situation, then all of us are happy to be doing that.

“Like all parents, I have a sense of horror and shock.

“I don’t think any of us could imagine what the parents and the rest of the family are going through but we do understand the need to stand solidly with the family as they continue to express hope that more can be done.

“There will be an opportunity to see Maddy again and all of us want to share that sense of hope as well as the sense of horror that they must be going through every day.

“We must do all we can to ensure that European law enforcement agencies work together quickly.

“This is not just about the immediate situation but about every other family that might be affected in future.”