MICHAEL Gove was caught out by the SNP in the Commons today after trying to deflect from a serious attack on his performance across the Brexit period.
The Cabinet Office minister's behaviour was compared to Bart Simpson by SNP MP Owen Thompson who suggested that, like the cartoon child, Gove simply says he "didn't do it", despite being the clear culprit.
Speaking in the Commons, the SNP representative for Midlothian said: “While the minister is telling Northern Ireland it can have the best of both worlds, he’s using the same reasoning to tell Scotland to shut up and get back in your box – all while claiming any negative impacts are not actually Brexit-related.
“Is it now the case the minister has become the Government’s very own Bart Simpson, causing chaos and presenting their agenda regardless of cost while claiming ‘I didn’t do it, nobody saw me do it, you can’t prove anything’?”
READ MORE: The Simpsons takes aim at shortbread tin Union-Jackery in new episode
An episode of season five of the popular cartoon saw Bart achieve fame with the catchphrase “I didn’t do it” – before his one-line routine eventually flopped as people grew tired of it.
In reply during the exchanges in the House of Commons, Gove highlighted the Simpsons' fictional Scottish school janitor – only to be told that Willie declared his support for Scottish independence at the 2014 referendum.
Aberdeen-born Gove said: “Well, I’ve always thought the Simpsons character I most remembered was Groundskeeper Willie because he’s an Aberdonian.”
SNP MP Alison Thewliss could be heard shouting: “He supports independence.”
Gove replied: “I’m not sure what his position is on independence, but as jannies (janitors) go, he’s one of the best.”
Incidentally, Gove is wrong that Groundskeeper Willie is from Aberdeen. The character said in a 2012 episode of the long-running US show: "I want to clear up one thing about me.
"Everyone thinks I’m from Edinburgh or Glasgow, and the truth is I’m from Kirkwall in Orkney."
In 2014, the Simpsons character declared both his support for independence and his intention to run for First Minister in a video released online.
Groundskeeper Willie said: "Both sides of this [independence] argument have valid points, both the freedom-loving heirs of the Highland tradition, and those who enjoy crawling like worms beneath British boots."
He later reveals he has "Aye or die!" written across chest, declaring: "That's not a tattoo, it's a birthmark."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel