Douglas Ross panned for chairing Holyrood meeting from Caribbean
On Wednesday morning, Ross plugged in to the Education, Children and Young People Committee from the Turks and Caicos islands, a British overseas territory where he is reported to be on Commonwealth Parliamentary Association business.
However, LibDem MSP Willie Rennie raised a point of order about Ross's involvement as convener from abroad.
READ MORE: These key economic truths show how independent Scotland and Wales can succeed
Rennie said: 'I'd like to raise a point of order. I raised this with the convener in the private pre-briefing.
'I don't think it's appropriate, convener, for you to be conducting this meeting from the Caribbean.
'I think it doesn't make you look good and it doesn't make this committee look good, and I would like you once again to reconsider whether this is appropriate.
'I would ask you to hand over the responsibilities to the vice-convener.'
The SNP's Karen Dunbar is vice-convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee.
In response to Rennie's request, Ross said he would be happy to take part as a lay-member and allow Dunbar to chair the meeting, at which Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, Higher Education Minister Graeme Dey, and Minister for Children Natalie Don-Innes were due to give evidence.
READ MORE: Seamus Logan: Anas Sarwar's joy quickly sours as reality of UK Labour's record bites
Dunbar took advice from parliamentary clerks and said that there was nothing in the rules to prevent a meeting being chaired remotely.
'The rule makes no distinction between virtual or in-person attendance during committee meetings,' she said.
'It is the role of the convenor to chair the committee if they are present, whether in person or virtually.'
Dunbar therefore declined to convene the meeting and passed the responsibility back to Ross.
Previously, an SNP source briefed the Daily Record about the fact that the former Scottish Tory leader would attend the meeting from the Caribbean.
They said: "Throughout his time at Holyrood, Douglas Ross has treated his role as an MSP as a part-time gig to fit around his other jobs – including his various jaunts across Europe as an assistant referee.
"This has been a bit of an embarrassing week for Ross after he was removed from the Chamber for his poor behaviour on Thursday.
'After his tirade of unjustified claims about other members' parliamentary attendance it is now somewhat ironic that Mr Ross will be logging in from near the Caribbean."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit arrested on suspicion of spying and terror-related offences at RAF base
A British man with alleged links to Iran has been arrested on suspicion of espionage and terrorism offences in Cyprus. The man is reported to have kept the RAF Akrotiri base on the island under surveillance and is alleged to have links with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, local media reported. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are in contact with the authorities in Cyprus regarding the arrest of a British man.' RAF Akrotiri is the UK's most important airbase for operations in the Middle East. The Philenews website said the man was arrested on Friday following intelligence he was planning an imminent terrorist attack. He is alleged to have lived in a flat in Zakaki, Limassol, close to Akrotiri and was observed near the base carrying a camera with a long lens and three mobile phones. Local reports suggested he was Azerbaijani but the UK Foreign Office said they were working with the authorities over the arrest of a Briton. RAF Typhoon jets from Akrotiri were used to defend Israel from Iranian drone and missile attacks last year, although they have not been involved in the current fighting between the two Middle East rivals. The base is also used for flights as part of Operation Shader to counter Islamic State militants. In a sign of some of the more sensitive activity at the base, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited Akrotiri in December last year and said 'quite a bit of what goes on here can't necessarily be talked about all of the time'. Security at RAF bases is under scrutiny after Palestine Action protesters entered the Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire and vandalised two aircraft. RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Top headteacher's fury at politicians who 'delight in the demise of independent schools'
The head of one of the largest private schools in the UK has hit out at politicians who 'delight in the demise of independent schools' and says her school makes £45m a year for the Scottish economy. Lisa Kerr, who formerly led King Charles 's old school Gordonstoun, said those driven by their 'ideological beliefs' failed to recognise the massive economic benefits of private schools. Now Principal at prestigious George Watson's College in Edinburgh, where 1 in 4 pupils attend private schools, one of the highest numbers in the UK, said: 'Our school alone contributed £34.8 million in GVA (gross added value) to the Edinburgh economy, supporting 580 jobs in the city. 'Across Scotland, our impact rose to £44.7 million GVA and 680 jobs.' And Ms Kerr, who has previously slammed the government's VAT on fees tax raid as an 'existential threat' for private schools, said: 'The impact on Treasury coffers and state school places is only half the story. 'Those whose motivations are ideological and who delight in the demise of independent schools miss the significant economic impact we have on our communities and the benefits that are at stake as the sector shrinks.' Pointing out the huge savings City of Edinburgh Council had made because of children being educated outside the state sector, she explained: 'By educating nearly 2500 pupils, our school saved the public purse a staggering £18.9m with £15.7m of this directly relating to savings made by City of Edinburgh Council from us educating pupils in this area. 'In addition to the staff we employ directly, the school has a valuable and long term supply chain including catering, construction, engineering and cleaning, some for as long as 25 years.' The Labour-run council has been in the firing line since The Mail on Sunday first revealed its hardline anti private school policies such as charging sick kids on cancer wards at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh £115 an hour for tuition if they went to private schools while state school children received it free. Ms Kerr also warned the huge numbers quitting the independent sector – 'four times the government estimate at 13,000' – would have a devastating impact on the state sector. She said: 'Once numbers are in for the rest of the year, the Treasury sums will be further adrift. The numbers for this flawed policy just don't add up; not only will the government fail to raise the promised income but it will put serious strain on the public purse as more pupils are forced to move to already stretched state schools.' Ms Kerr has previously revealed admissions numbers are dropping at the historic college, originally founded in the 18th century, where fees have risen by up to £19,991 a year because of VAT on school fees. And she warned local partnerships which had delivered 'significant positive social impact' including work with the Edinburgh Food Project, an HIV education project and work with local primary schools were now under threat. 'As admissions and pupil numbers fall due to the introduction of the politically driven education tax, these benefits are at significant risk. This will not only damage Edinburgh's economy but will also increase the taxpayer burden. 'It is time for the government to go back to the calculator, be honest about the actual benefits that any school will ever see and to rethink this policy.' The UK Government has repeatedly defended its stance, stating that ending tax breaks for private schools will raise £1.8billion a year by 2029/30, to be spent 'supporting the 94 per cent of children in state schools'.
ITV News
2 hours ago
- ITV News
British man arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying and terrorism offences
A British man has been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of espionage and terrorism offences. The man is reported to have kept the RAF Akrotiri base on the island under surveillance and is alleged to have links with Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, local media reported. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are in contact with the authorities in Cyprus regarding the arrest of a British man.' RAF Akrotiri is the UK's most important airbase for operations in the Middle East. The Philenews website said the man was arrested on Friday following intelligence he was planning an imminent terrorist attack. He is alleged to have lived in a flat in Zakaki, Limassol, close to Akrotiri and was observed near the base carrying a camera with a long lens and three mobile phones. Local reports suggested he was Azerbaijani but the UK Foreign Office said they were working with the authorities over the arrest of a Briton. RAF Typhoon jets from Akrotiri were used to defend Israel from Iranian drone and missile attacks last year, although they have not been involved in the current fighting between the two Middle East rivals. The base is also used for flights as part of Operation Shader to counter Islamic State militants. In a sign of some of the more sensitive activity at the base, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited Akrotiri in December last year and said 'quite a bit of what goes on here can't necessarily be talked about all of the time'. Security at RAF bases is under scrutiny after Palestine Action protesters entered the Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire and vandalised two aircraft. RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri.
