TORY Stephen Kerr has been accused of talking “complete and utter nonsense” over the First Minister’s Covid-19 statements and briefings.
The Central Scotland MSP was taken to task by the Minister for Parliamentary Business George Adam during a debate in Holyrood on Thursday afternoon.
MSPs were debating the rules and procedures of the parliament in light of the impact of Covid-19, and how they should move forward, for example, with issues like the hybrid system which allows parliamentarians to join remotely or in person.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon writes urgent plea to Boris Johnson over Covid support
However, during the debate on parliamentary procedures, Kerr instead took aim at the Scottish Government for a number of grievances.
He was also chastised by another SNP MSP for being guilty of “misusing standing orders” to make political points, after he raised issues with the way the Scottish Government reponds to his written questions.
Kerr opened his contribution to the debate by saying that all MSPs had been elected to parliament to hold the Scottish Government to account, but that he personally felt this was done with “one hand tied behind my back”.
He said he lodged three questions on one topic but only received one written response and didn’t answer the questions he asked, and lamented over the “lengthy” responses given by ministers in response to questions in the chamber which he claimed are prepared by “spads and civil servants”.
He said: “I’m afraid that ministers stick so rigidly to their answers because there is a degree of contempt from the government towards this parliament.
“And I give you a current example, the First Minister last Friday announced various new measures, restrictions, and substantive policy matters relating to Covid-19 in a TV studio, and that’s not the first time that’s happened.”
Adam, who is responsible for parliamentary business under his brief and sits on the Parliamentary Bureau with Kerr, intervened.
He said: “Does the member not actually believe that what he said is complete and utter nonsense and it wasn’t the actual case, because we’ve had this discussion at Bureau on a number of occasions and he can’t just seem to let things go.
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“Can he not just accept what he just said there was complete and utter nonsense?"
Undeterred, Kerr refused to back down. He said: “I’ll tell you what’s complete and utter nonsense, Minister, is that the Scottish government claims that a press release, a statement released at 5 o’clock last Thursday, after this parliament had risen, was somehow unknown to the Scottish Goverment which is renowned for its grip and control with everything to do with its remit.
“I would say that it's far from nonsense, I think it's highly relevant to this debate.”
On Thursday, Public Health Scotland put out a press release which advised the public to cancel their Christmas parties due to the rise in Omicron cases in Scotland.
Adam didn't hold back in his response to Kerr's claims and said the Parliamentary Bureau had discussed it on numerous occasions
On Friday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave a televised briefing and an update on the Covid-19 pandemic with journalists. The Scottish Parliament does not sit on Friday’s.
Earlier in the debate, Kerr had accused the Scottish Government of using their written and spoken answers to play party politics.
Intervening, SNP MSP John Mason said: “Would he accept that it works both ways and that some members, including himself, do misuse points of order?”
READ MORE: FMQs: Nicola Sturgeon scolds 'shameless' Douglas Ross over Covid politicking
Kerr said: “I certainly don’t agree with John Mason in the slightest inappropriate use of points of order, I think that’s ridiculous.”
It comes just after a week after Kerr was scolded for shouting at Nicola Sturgeon in the Holyrood chamber after FMQs had ended.
Presiding Officer Alison Johnston was forced to intervene after the session closed as Kerr could be seen pointing and heard shouting at Sturgeon and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf on Scottish Parliament TV.
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