A ROW between MSPs has erupted after a protest outside Holyrood looked to block people from entering the building to attend a wine reception held by weapons manufacturers.

Tory MSP Stephen Kerr accused his Green counterpart Ross Greer of bringing the Scottish Parliament into “disrepute” after he spoke at the rally outside the building’s main door.

Organised by the Edinburgh Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee, the protest was aimed at an event held by the ADS Group of arms companies and sponsored by Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw.

Labour MSP Paul Sweeney had sponsored the event, but pulled out after being confronted on his involvement by the media.

On Wednesday evening, Greer spoke to the protest about the need to show solidarity with people in Palestine and praised activists for turning up.

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He commented on social media: “Earlier tonight activists blocked the entrance to the Scottish Parliament to prevent arms dealers from attending a shameful reception lauding their industry.

“The @scottishgreens stand with the people of Gaza, not the arms dealers profiting from their slaughter.”

The ADS industry body has been criticised for its links to Israel, with several of the companies it represents known to have sold weapons or parts to the country amid concerns they could be used in war crimes. Its Holyrood event went ahead despite the protest, the presiding officer confirmed.

Speaking in parliament on Thursday, Tory MSP Kerr raised a point of order to accuse Greer – whom he did not name – of having “orchestrated and trumpeted” the demonstration.

He said: “Last night, members of the public seeking to enter this Parliament were obstructed and intimidated and all of this was orchestrated and trumpeted by a member of this Parliament, a Scottish Green MSP.

“This is surely unacceptable conduct for a member of the Scottish Parliament to seek to prevent members of the public entering their own Parliament.

“What actions will now be taken in the light of last night's events to secure safe access for the public to enter their Parliament at all times? And what action will be taken against the member who I believe has brought disrepute to the Scottish Parliament?

“Because not only did he plan and conduct the obstruction and the demonstration, but he claimed responsibility for it, he sought to shut down this Parliament.”

Kerr (below) said he believed both in the right to free speech and protest and the right to enter the Scottish Parliament building.

The National: Stephen Kerr

The Herald reported that a member of the public had reported Greer to the Ethical Standards Commissioner over the protest.

After Kerr raised concerns, presiding officer Alison Johnstone said that although there were “extremely difficult circumstances last evening”, all of the scheduled events had gone ahead as planned.

“I can assure all members that our procedures are very much kept under review and they are adjusted where that is appropriate,” she added.

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Responding, Greer told The National that the “truly shameful scene last night was the wine reception for the arms dealers whose weapons Israel is using to slaughter children”.

He went on: “People across Scotland will be appalled that MSPs from multiple parties were willing to host such an event during an ongoing genocide.

"Peaceful protest, including direct action, is critical to our democracy and as public representatives we will all be judged for a long time to come on the actions we took to contribute towards an end to this slaughter.

"The Scottish Greens proudly stand with the Palestinian people and for a lasting peace."

In the chamber, Green co-leader Patrick Harvie had urged Johnstone to ensure that “high priority” was given to the “absolutely essential role that the right of peaceful protest plays in our democracy and in the life of our Parliament”.