Former Scottish Tory leader presides over Holyrood committee from the Caribbean
The former leader of the Scottish Tories has caused outrage after chairing a Holyrood committee from thousands of miles away in the Caribbean.
Douglas Ross appeared at the education committee hearing on Wednesday via video link from the Turks and Caicos Islands.
He is in the region for a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association seminar after being nominated by some of its members in the Scottish Parliament. However, MSPs said it was 'farcical' that he was trying to lead the meeting from the Caribbean at around 4am local time.
It came as the committee cross-examined Jenny Gilruth, the SNP Education Secretary, Natalie Don-Innes, the children's minister, and Graeme Dey, the higher and further education minister.
During the hearing, Willie Rennie, a Liberal Democrat committee member, raised a point of order, saying: 'It is wholly inappropriate and unprofessional for Douglas Ross to even attempt to chair the education committee 4,000 miles away in the Caribbean.
'This is especially the case when questioning the three ministers for education on issues such as temporary contracts for teachers, school violence, the University of Dundee, the future of colleges, the Promise, additional support needs and so much more.
'These issues deserve a convener who is in the room rather than attempting to conduct affairs in the middle of the night in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Everyone in education in Scotland deserves better than this.'
George Adam, an SNP MSP, also told Mr Ross at the meeting: 'I am, for the record, not happy. I find this meeting farcical, the fact that you could even think you could do that online from the other side of the world.'
He said he had repeatedly tried to convince Mr Ross to 'do the right thing' but told him: 'You continue with your continued behaviour, and quite frankly I think it makes you look small and pathetic.'
Mr Ross, who is due to return to the UK on Thursday, said he was happy to hear concerns and allow Jackie Dunbar, his deputy on the committee, to oversee the hearing instead.
Following a brief suspension, Ms Dunbar said the rules for conveners did not distinguish between a virtual or physical appearance, and Mr Ross continued to lead the rest of the meeting.
Speaking afterwards, he said: 'While I was away from Holyrood on parliamentary business, leading sessions for new and existing MPs on behalf of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, I was still keen to take a full part in the committee session.
'The time difference allowed me to convene this committee session and then fully participate in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association programme.'
Mr Ross added: 'Often MSPs are criticised for being work-shy, but I don't think that accusation can be levelled at me given my determination to fully take part in this meeting.
'I also note, despite members being informed of my intention to convene the meeting remotely last Friday, no member raised any concerns with me until the meeting began on Wednesday morning. I'm very pleased that the session ran so smoothly and all members were able to question the education ministers on a number of crucial topics.'
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