IAN Blackford has condemned the “ignorance and arrogance” of a Tory MP who told him to “go back to the Isle of Skye” in Parliament.
Nicholas Soames, MP for Mid Sussex, made the comment as the SNP’s Westminster leader rose to speak in the Commons.
Speaker John Bercow was introducing Blackford to begin speaking on the emergency debate on the EU withdrawal agreement.
The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber immediately responded to the Tory’s remark, which was audible in footage of the Commons session.
WATCH: SNP MP's response to being told to 'go back to Skye'
Blackford said: “Mr Speaker, there’s the message to the people of Scotland from the Conservative benches, and the people of Scotland will reflect on the kind of ignorance and arrogance which is shown by honourable, so-called honourable members.”
Soames has previously been forced to apologise after making “woofing” noises at former SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh as she spoke in Parliament back in January 2017.
SNP MP Neil Gray expressed his shock at the Conservative’s comment on Twitter.
He wrote: “Couldn’t believe what I heard from Nicholas Soames shouting ‘go back to Isle of Skye’ as @IanBlackfordMP stood up to start Emergency #brexit debate.”
“Shameful, contemptuous behaviour.
“Ian clearly getting under skin of the Tories & they are reduced to abusing him & shouting down.”
Afterwards, Blackford insisted in Parliament that the UK Government’s stance on Brexit is giving Scotland a mandate for a second independence referendum that Westminster must accept.
Asked if he agreed Scotland should be independent within the EU, he said: “If there is an economic threat to jobs and prosperity in Scotland, then it is very clear that the Scottish Parliament has a mandate to call an independence referendum.”
He also dubbed Jeremy Corbyn “the midwife of Brexit” amid a scathing attack for his failure to call a no-confidence vote in the Government.
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