Douglas Ross Faces Backlash Over Scottish Parliament Incident

Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross faced intense criticism after refusing to leave the Scottish Parliament chamber during a heated exchange with presiding officer Alison Johnstone. The incident, which occurred on October 17, 2023, escalated after Ross accused Johnstone of bias, prompting calls from various political leaders for his suspension.

During a session that followed a debate on the Recall and Removal of Members Bill, Ross challenged Johnstone’s authority. He claimed that parliamentary standing orders were not being upheld fairly, specifically accusing her of favouring members from the Scottish National Party (SNP). “Our standing orders are to protect all members, not just those of the SNP,” he stated, referring to interruptions that had affected fellow Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay.

Johnstone, who previously served as a member of the Green Party before assuming her current impartial role, instructed Ross to leave the chamber. She emphasized her commitment to fairness, saying, “I am wholly impartial and fair in this chair.” Despite this, Ross chose to remain seated, leading to a suspension of proceedings.

In response to the situation, Johnstone reiterated the importance of respecting the authority of the chair. “It is not appropriate to challenge the chair,” she said, further asserting her impartiality. With Ross’s microphone turned off, she made clear that his actions were unacceptable, stating, “One member cannot be allowed to disregard the standing orders of the parliament.”

Political leaders from various parties quickly condemned Ross’s behaviour. George Adam, a Scottish National Party MSP, called it “disrespectful and disgusting,” drawing a parallel to Ross’s role as a football assistant referee, where he would not tolerate similar conduct. Adam added, “If he is not suspended from parliament, then the Tory leader, Russell Findlay, should grow a backbone and take the whip away from this small, petty little man.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton went further, describing Ross as an “embarrassment” to both his party and the parliament. He expressed hope that this incident would mark a final moment in Ross’s public life.

Support for Ross’s removal from the Scottish Conservatives also came from Graham Simpson, a Reform UK MSP, who stated that Ross’s actions were “disgraceful” and undermined the authority of the presiding officer. Labour MSPs joined in the criticism, underscoring that this was not the first time Ross had clashed with Johnstone, with a previous incident occurring in May 2022.

The backlash against Ross raises questions about his future within the Scottish Conservatives, as party leaders grapple with the implications of his actions. Ross has yet to comment on the incident, but the call for accountability from various political factions suggests that this episode may have lasting repercussions for his political career.