Humza Yousaf told to apologise after Douglas Ross accusations
The Scottish Parliament descended into a House of Commons-style shouting match this lunchtime, after SNP leader Humza Yousaf accused the Tories of “lying”.
Taking to the chamber for First Minister’s Questions, Mr Yousaf told the chamber: “I know Douglas Ross, despite having three or four or five jobs – I’ve lost count presiding officer – was down at the Conservative Party Conference this week – or as others have rightly dubbed it, the conspiracy party conference.”
“His post-truth, his lies about the police service, it simply will not wash here in Scotland.”
MSPs erupted in outrage over the slur, with demands for the chamber’s speaker to intervene.
The Presiding Officer told the divisive SNP leader: “First Minister, as you are aware, it is wholly inappropriate to suggest that another member of this Parliament has lied and I would be grateful if you might apologise”.
READ MORE: SNP facing ‘seismic’ defeat in crunch by-election as voters head to the polls
Mr Yousaf refused to back down, however, replying: “I’m happy to call it a deliberate inaccuracy, because that’s clearly what it is”.
Amid further booing and heckling, the speaker demanded he apologise properly for the allegation.
He flippantly said he was “happy to apologise to anyone who was offended by the post-truths that have come from the Conservatives”.
Trying for a third time, the Holyrood presiding officer demanded Mr Yousaf “apologise to myself and to the chamber”, at which point he reluctantly said he was “happy to apologise to the chamber for any offence”.
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While those in the room made it clear they still weren’t happy with the semi-apology, the question session eventually moved on.
Following FMQs, Tory MSP Jamie Johnston said Humza Yousaf is unable to deliver an apology, though “this will come as no surprise to islanders waiting for delayed ferries or road users waiting for the A9 to be dualled”.
“Embarrassing stuff from this hapless FM.”
Fellow MSP Jamie Greene quipped: “Sorry seems to be the hardest word”.
Douglas Lumsden MSP slammed Mr Yousaf as an “embarrassment… to Scotland”.
The SNP and Mr Yousaf face a nosebleed in today’s crunch by-election in Rutherglen and Hamilton, after former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier was forced out for breaking Covid laws.
It’s widely expected Labour will win the seat, amid a large swing against the SNP in national polling since Mr Yousaf took over from Nicola Sturgeon.
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