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Scotsman
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
'Farcical': Douglas Ross convenes Education Committee from Caribbean
Former Tory leader asked to leave meeting after video-calling in from the Turks and Caicos Islands Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Douglas Ross faced calls to leave a Holyrood committee after convening it from the Caribbean, with one MSP branding the situation 'farcical'. The former Scottish Conservative leader video-called into the Education Committee on Wednesday from Turks and Caicos, where it was about 4am at the time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He is in the region as part of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association seminar following a nomination by Scottish Parliament members of the association. Douglas Ross attending the meeting remotely | Contributed Mr Ross, who arrived in the archipelago on Monday and will return on Thursday, had said beforehand he would still attend the committee. MSPs were grilling Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, children's minister Natalie Don-Innes, and higher and further education minister Graeme Dey. Willie Rennie, a member of the committee, raised concerns about Mr Ross chairing the meeting in Edinburgh from abroad. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tory MSP Douglas Ross and Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie | PA He said: '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. Issues 'deserve a convener who is in the room' '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.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Liberal Democrat MSP had raised a point of order during the committee, adding he had also raised concerns before the meeting began. During the session, Mr Rennie said his appearance from the Caribbean 'doesn't make you look good and it doesn't make this committee look good'. He had asked Mr Ross to hand over his duties on Wednesday to the vice-convener. Mr Ross said he was happy to hear concerns and allow deputy convener Jackie Dunbar to convene the committee. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Following a brief suspension, Ms Dunbar said the rules for conveners did not distinguish between a virtual or physical appearance at the committee, and Mr Ross convened the rest of the meeting. SNP MSP George Adam told Mr Ross at the committee: 'I would just like to say a few words with regards to the situation of you convening this from a tropical island on the other side of the world. '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. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'To be fair, it's the best behaved you've been in the past couple of weeks so perhaps being online suits you and not actually meeting people in person is maybe not your best way forward. 'The aggressive manner and the lack of respect you've shown to people who have come to the committee in the past have actually made this Parliament look bad.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ex-Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross sparks fury by chairing 'farcical' Holyrood committee remotely from 4,000 miles away in the CARIBBEAN
The former leader of the Scottish Tories sparked fury today after chairing a Holyrood committee while 4,000 miles away in the Caribbean. Douglas Ross acted as convener of the education committee via video-link from an official visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The meeting room in Edinbugh was packed with MSPs ready to question SNP education secretary Jenny Gilruth, children's minister Natalie Don-Innes, and higher and further education minister Graeme Dey. He got up at 4am local time to chair the 9am BST meeting, but refused to hand over control to deputy convener Jackie Dunbar - who was in the committee room - because there was nothing in the rules to say he could not chair from abroad. But it comes months after the Scottish Tories criticised SNP MSP Evelyn Tweed for voting at a committee via videolink from the Cayman Islands. Former Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie told the meeting: '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.' The former Scottish Conservative leader is in the Caribbean as part of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association seminar following a nomination by Scottish Parliament members of the association. Mr Ross, who arrived in the archipelago on Monday and will return on Thursday, had said beforehand he would still attend the committee. During the session, Mr Rennie said his appearance from the Caribbean 'doesn't make you look good and it doesn't make this committee look good'. He had asked Mr Ross to hand over his duties on Wednesday to the vice-convener. Mr Ross said he was happy to hear concerns and allow deputy convener Ms Dunbar to convene the committee. Following a brief suspension, Ms Dunbar said the rules for conveners did not distinguish between a virtual or physical appearance at the committee, and Mr Ross convened the rest of the meeting. SNP MSP George Adam also lashed out at Mr Ross for 'convening this from a tropical island on the other side of the world'. '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. 'To be fair, it's the best behaved you've been in the past couple of weeks so perhaps being online suits you and not actually meeting people in person is maybe not your best way forward. 'The aggressive manner and the lack of respect you've shown to people who have come to the committee in the past have actually made this Parliament look bad. 'I want to put that on the record because we have tried on numerous occasions to talk to you, take you aside and ask you to do the right thing, but you continue with your continued behaviour and quite frankly I think it makes you look small and pathetic.'
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Holyrood branded 'farcical' after second MSP joins committee meeting from Caribbean
Douglas Ross followed the example of Evelyn Tweed by dialling in to an important meeting while on a work trip to a sun-kissed isle. The Scottish Parliament's committee system has been branded "farcical" after a second MSP joined a meeting remotely while on a trip to the Caribbean. Douglas Ross today dialled in to a gathering of the important Education Committee in Edinburgh despite being on an official visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Record previously revealed the former Scottish Conservatives leader was flying to the sun-kissed isles following an invitation by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Ross is following the example of SNP MSP Evelyn Tweed who last month joined a meeting of Holyrood's Equalities Committee while on a similar work trip to the Cayman Islands. The Nationalist logged on remotely at 4am local time to cast a vote to ensure Green MSP Maggie Chapman was not booted off the committee after she was filmed attacking judges in a public speech. Ross, who arrived in the islands on Monday and will return on Thursday, had previously confirmed he would convene the committee remotely. MSPs were supposed to be grilling Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, children's minister Natalie Don-Innes, and further education minister Graeme Dey. Willie Rennie, a member of the committee, raised concerns about Ross chairing the meeting in Edinburgh from abroad. He said: '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.' The Liberal Democrat MSP had raised a point of order during the committee, adding he had also raised concerns before the meeting began. During the session, Rennie said his appearance from the Caribbean 'doesn't make you look good and it doesn't make this committee look good'. He had asked Ross to hand over his duties on Wednesday to the vice-convener. Ross said he was happy to hear concerns and allow deputy convener Jackie Dunbar to convene the committee. Following a brief suspension, Dunbar said the rules for conveners did not distinguish between a virtual or physical appearance at the committee, and Ross convened the rest of the meeting. SNP MSP George Adam told Ross at the committee: 'I would just like to say a few words with regards to the situation of you convening this from a tropical island on the other side of the world. '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. 'To be fair, it's the best behaved you've been in the past couple of weeks so perhaps being online suits you and not actually meeting people in person is maybe not your best way forward. 'The aggressive manner and the lack of respect you've shown to people who have come to the committee in the past have actually made this Parliament look bad. 'I want to put that on the record because we have tried on numerous occasions to talk to you, take you aside and ask you to do the right thing, but you continue with your continued behaviour and quite frankly I think it makes you look small and pathetic.'
STV News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Douglas Ross convenes Education Committee from Caribbean
Douglas Ross faced calls to leave a Holyrood committee after convening it from the Caribbean, with one MSP branding the situation 'farcical'. The former Scottish Conservative leader video-called into the Education Committee on Wednesday from Turks and Caicos, where it was about 4am at the time. He is in the region as part of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association seminar following a nomination by Scottish Parliament members of the association. Ross, who arrived in the archipelago on Monday and will return on Thursday, had said beforehand he would still attend the committee. MSPs were grilling Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, children's minister Natalie Don-Innes, and higher and further education minister Graeme Dey. Willie Rennie, a member of the committee, raised concerns about Ross chairing the meeting in Edinburgh from abroad. He said: '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.' PA Media Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie called for Douglas Ross to leave the Education Committee (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA) The Liberal Democrat MSP had raised a point of order during the committee, adding he had also raised concerns before the meeting began. During the session, Rennie said his appearance from the Caribbean 'doesn't make you look good and it doesn't make this committee look good'. He had asked Ross to hand over his duties on Wednesday to the vice-convener. Ross said he was happy to hear concerns and allow deputy convener Jackie Dunbar to convene the committee. Following a brief suspension, Dunbar said the rules for conveners did not distinguish between a virtual or physical appearance at the committee, and Ross convened the rest of the meeting. PA Media SNP MSP George Adam described Douglas Ross's appearance at the committee as a 'farcical' (Scottish Parliament/PA) SNP MSP George Adam told Ross at the committee: 'I would just like to say a few words with regards to the situation of you convening this from a tropical island on the other side of the world. '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. 'To be fair, it's the best behaved you've been in the past couple of weeks so perhaps being online suits you and not actually meeting people in person is maybe not your best way forward. 'The aggressive manner and the lack of respect you've shown to people who have come to the committee in the past have actually made this Parliament look bad. 'I want to put that on the record because we have tried on numerous occasions to talk to you, take you aside and ask you to do the right thing, but you continue with your continued behaviour and quite frankly I think it makes you look small and pathetic.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Bloomberg
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Harvard Probed for Hiring Discrimination by US House Committee
A congressional committee is investigating Harvard University over potential discrimination in its hiring and employment practices, adding to scrutiny of the school amid a showdown with the Trump administration over billions of dollars in federal funding. Publicly available documents 'suggest that Harvard may have been and may still be unlawfully discriminating' on the basis of criteria such as race and sex, nine Republican members of the Education and Workforce Committee said in a letter to university President Alan Garber.
