MEMBERS were reminded to act in a parliamentary way after Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr appeared to launch a tirade against the SNP frontbench after FMQs ended.
Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone was forced to intervene after the session closed, as the MSP for Central Scotland could be seen pointing at Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf – and could be heard shouting on Scottish Parliament TV.
In response, the Health Secretary can be heard telling Kerr (below): “Don’t you start!” Yousaf then gets up to walk away.
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With an angry tone, Johnstone then cut in: “Members, can I just remind you that parliament is currently not suspended. And can I ask you at all times to behave in a manner befitting of parliamentarians.”
At this point, Kerr can be seen walking over to the First Minister. Nicola Sturgeon gestures towards where he had been sitting as they talk for a few seconds, then she walks away from the Conservative MSP.
It is currently not clear what Kerr had been shouting at the senior SNP figures.
FMQs viewers were not impressed with Kerr’s behaviour. “This is what happens when what is effectively the worst of unionist Twitter gets elected,” noted SNP head of digital Ross Colquhoun.
“You might well think that Stephen Kerr's entire modus operandi in @ScotParl is to behave in a manner not befitting of parliamentarians...or possibly to behave in a manner befitting of Westminster parliamentarians,” added another independence supporter.
A spokesperson for the SNP told The National: "It’s no surprise the Scottish Tories are trying to deflect attention from the river of sleaze and scandal engulfing their bosses at Westminster.
“If they showed even half the level of anger they display in the Holyrood chamber when it comes to calling out the despicable behaviour of Boris Johnson and his corrupt cabal they might be more in line with public opinion.”
Kerr has previously been called out for his behaviour in Holyrood, including by Health Secretary Yousaf who slammed his “bluff and bluster”.
On that occasion, Johnstone again had to cut in to remind MSPs to treat each other with courtesy.
Kerr also found himself in trouble shortly after his election to Holyrood in May, when he removed the Gaelic from the Scottish Parliament logo in a letter sent out from his office to a UK Government minister.
The Scottish Parliament confirmed that Kerr had been “reminded of the policy”.
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