MHAIRI Black has hit out at Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray, calling him a "Tory wrapped up in Labour clothing" for criticising her voting record –when she has missed Parliament time due to being sick and unable to work.
The SNP chose to abstain on the third reading of the Budget bill this week, because it brought forward changes which would give Scotland's fire and police services a VAT exemption – an issue the SNP have been campaigning on for years.
But in response to a Daily Record column Black wrote about Labour's record on austerity, Murray tweeted to her: "Did you vote against the Tory budget last night @MhairiBlack? To make it easy for you the answer is no you didn’t. Maybe you should turn up a bit more often. Worst attendance and voting record in parliament."
Did you vote against the Tory budget last night @MhairiBlack? To make it easy for you the answer is no you didn’t. Maybe you should turn up a bit more often. Worst attendance and voting record in parliament. https://t.co/gKAfdNGWPR
— Ian Murray (@IanMurrayMP) February 22, 2018
Black hit back at the Edinburgh South MP, tweeting an extract from an interview with Holyrood Magazine which explained her voting record was down to missing months of work for being sick.
She wrote: "A wee excerpt from a recent interview I did. Learn how to make a political point without resorting to bullying tactics. Some Labour values you’ve got... You stay classy Ian."
A wee excerpt from a recent interview I did. Learn how to make a political point without resorting to bullying tactics.
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) February 23, 2018
Some Labour values you’ve got... You stay classy Ian. pic.twitter.com/SI9rwr4iGO
Murray replied: "Im genuinely sorry you’ve been ill but I was referring to your daily record article where you accuse labour of backing the Tories when the SNP didn’t vote against Tory budget the very same day of the article. You & your colleagues voted on amendments less than an hour before."
Im genuinely sorry you’ve been ill but I was referring to your daily record article where you accuse labour of backing the Tories when the SNP didn’t vote against Tory budget the very same day of the article. You & your colleagues voted on amendments less than an hour before. https://t.co/7O68x8df8H
— Ian Murray (@IanMurrayMP) February 23, 2018
And Mhairi had the last word. "Sorry Ian, not good enough," she wrote. "Publicly chastising and blaming a person for not being able to work when ill? Sounds very like a Tory wrapped up in Labour clothing. You’ll see the explanation for our abstention in my reply. Disagreeing is fine but debate without bullying please."
Sorry Ian, not good enough. Publicly chastising and blaming a person for not being able to work when ill? Sounds very like a Tory wrapped up in Labour clothing.
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) February 23, 2018
You’ll see the explanation for our abstention in my reply. Disagreeing is fine but debate without bullying please. pic.twitter.com/Xf5BsFS0pq
UPDATE: A second Scottish Labour MP has attacked Black for taking time off her work due to serious illness.
Paul Sweeney, MP for Glasgow North-East, said: "Considering that Mhairi Black didn't even show up in Parliament last night to vote against the Tories' austerity max Finance Bill, and has barely turned up at all, she has quite the chutzpah to then pen this hatchet job. So much for being a political 'signpost' as Tony Benn said."
Considering that Mhairi Black didn't even show up in Parliament last night to vote against the Tories' austerity max Finance Bill, and has barely turned up at all, she has quite the chutzpah to then pen this hatchet job. So much for being a political 'signpost' as Tony Benn said. https://t.co/N1u9zfssPG
— Paul Sweeney MP (@PaulJSweeney) February 22, 2018
Mhairi replied: "I refer you to what I sent your colleague @IanMurrayMP. Bizarre that two so called progressive, ‘socialist’ men feel it’s appropriate to comment on a female colleague’s medical absence. Pretty sure that constitutes as bullying in most workplaces?"
I refer you to what I sent your colleague @IanMurrayMP. Bizarre that two so called progressive, ‘socialist’ men feel it’s appropriate to comment on a female colleague’s medical absence. Pretty sure that constitutes as bullying in most workplaces? pic.twitter.com/aXNC5c0y8U
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) February 23, 2018
What on earth are Scottish Labour playing at?
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel