THE Scottish Tory leader was told off for giving John Swinney a new nickname during First Minister’s Questions.
The deputy FM was standing in for Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday as she continues to struggle with Covid symptoms. She said she had been “floored” by the virus, for which she tested positive last week.
As Douglas Ross put questions to Swinney on the ferries row, he decided to dub the Covid Recovery Secretary “Honest John”.
But the Presiding Officer was not having it – and she quickly intervened to remind Ross that members must use proper names.
“Mr Ross, Mr Ross,” she cut in. “We will desist from nicknames in this Chamber and we will call people by their first names.”
“Sorry, sorry,” responded the Moray MP and part-time linesman.
Ross's nickname came as he insisted Swinney was instrumental in signing off on the controversial CalMac contract.
READ MORE: CalMac ferries: John Swinney denies contracts were for political gain
The deputy FM said it was disgraced former minister Derek Mackay who was ultimately responsible.
Pointing to emails which he said show Swinney approved the contract, Ross told MSPs: "Against overwhelming evidence, John Swinney signed off the deal anyway.
"It seems obvious to everyone what has happened here. The SNP wanted the political praise for keeping the yard open ahead of an election, so they ignored all the alarm bells.
"It looks an awful lot like the SNP made a dodgy deal and now they’re covering it up.
"Can the deputy first minister really tell the public that there was no political motive behind the award of this contract?"
Replying to Ross, the deputy FM said: “There was no political motive behind this contract.
“The objective of the Government was to ensure that ferries that are required are built and that is what we are concentrating on achieving. And we are also determined to ensure that employment in the lower Clyde is supported with contracts coming from the Calmac network.
“For Mr Ross to say that somehow the yard could stay open without any contracts is just to deny physical reality about the way which a yard would be run.”
He insisted that “Audit Scotland had deemed the procurement process to be “entirely standard”, adding: “And on that basis the transport minister took the decision to award the contract.”
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