Conservative MSP Douglas Ross has accused a Scottish government minister of physically and verbally assaulting him in parliament.
The former Scottish Tory leader said he would report Parliamentary Business Minister Jamie Hepburn to police over an alleged confrontation on Wednesday.
Ross claimed he was attacked as he left the chamber, after the pair had clashed over the scheduling of a summit to discuss “out of control” seagulls.
Hepburn, an SNP MSP, has not responded to a request for comment. A government source told Scotland News that “no such assault took place”.
Ross made the allegation at the end of First Ministers’ Questions at Holyrood on Thursday.
After the session he told reporters that Hepburn had grabbed him and swore at him “in an aggressive manner”.
The Highlands and Islands MSP claimed the incident happened in front of security and other parliamentary staff.
He said that the minister should lose his job, adding: “I can see no way he can continue in his role in government, particularly in a role which means he has to work with MSPs.”
The Tory MSP told journalists that he had reported the incident to the parliament’s chief executive, and that he been advised to speak to police.
Getty ImagesRoss had been criticised on Wednesday after he delayed a vote on landmark justice reforms to raise concerns about the government’s seagull summit.
The Highlands and Islands MSP, speaking during time set aside to agree the parliamentary business programme, described the summit as a “sham” and a “farce”.
He clashed with Hepburn in the chamber as he urged ministers to postpone the summit due to concerns it was not open to the public, media or other politicians.
Ministers committed to holding the summit following warnings that gull attacks were posing a risk to health and safety and a nuisance to local businesses.
The Herald reported that Ross’s intervention sparked anger among justice campaigners, who were in the gallery to witness the passage of the justice bill, and the Scottish Greens.
He sought reassurances that John Swinney took a “zero tolerance approach to threatening and intimidating behaviour by his ministers”.
‘Very serious allegation’
After First Ministers’ Questions, John Swinney told reporters that he only learned of the accusation when Ross raised it in the chamber.
He said he had no “intimate knowledge” of the issue and would consider the claims.
Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone described it as a “very serious allegation” and that it was important that it was “dealt with through the appropriate processes”.
She added: “I expect all members to take their responsibilities under the code of conduct seriously.”
She said such allegations would typically be investigated initially by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland, an independent watchdog appointed by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.
Johnstone added that ministers also have to adhere to the Scottish ministerial code.
