The National:

A TORY MSP seemed somewhat rattled by laughter from the SNP benches when he asked a question about net zero during FMQs.

Less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak rolled back on a number of crucial net zero policies to tackle climate change, the Scottish Tories for some bizarre reason decided to bring it up in the Scottish Parliament.

Despite the huge backlash to the PM’s plans, Douglas Ross decided to lead on the issue of oil and gas and was quickly told he should be "ashamed" for backing Sunak without a second thought.

READ MORE: Scotland forced to delay petrol car ban after Rishi Sunak's U-turn

Not a surprise from Ross, to be fair, who was only demonstrating the usual political nous we've come to expect.

But it was backbencher Brian Whittle who snapped after asking a question about net zero in the chamber, only to be met with jeers and laughter from MSPs elsewhere.

In his question to Deputy First Minister Shona Robison, who is standing in for Humza Yousaf while he’s in New York, Whittle asked what the Scottish Government’s response is to “reported comments from Cosla and council leaders questioning the achievability of net zero targets with a detailed plan and adequate funding".

After laughter could be heard echoing across the chamber, Whittle looked visibly angry and snapped, making a mocking laughing noise in response.

MSPs could be heard gasping and one saying “oh” at the strange outburst.

After the Presiding Officer intervened to say MSPs should give the “courtesy” that questions can be heard, Robison joked that Whittle “must be regretting submitting that question”.

And regret it he must, as clips of the bizarre outburst were quickly shared by just about every political journalist in Scotland.

READ MORE: Young Scots react to Tory net-zero U-turn: 'Blood on their hands'

Maybe the Tories should wait to see what policies their Westminster counterparts are going to scrap before they lodge their questions in Holyrood.

But it’s not as if the Tories in Westminster care much about Scotland, never mind its own party's MSPs.

But maybe Whittle should grow a bit of a thicker skin. He should be used to being thrown under the bus by his UK counterparts by now, surely?