Scotland’s Justice Secretary has survived a vote calling for him to quit after he was accused of having “abandoned his responsibilities”.
Labour’s justice spokesman, former senior police officer Graeme Pearson, led heavy attacks on the SNP’s Kenny MacAskill over his handling of controversial policies in policing and court reform.
Mr MacAskill hit back by accusing Mr Pearson and Labour of using policing as a “political football” and rejected the request for a resignation. The vote called fell 62 to 54 in his favour.
Mr Pearson told MSPs: “It’s my belief that the cabinet secretary has abandoned his responsibilities in relation to police reform.
“He’s tired, lacking ideas and gracelessly refuses to listen, leaving it to a private power struggle between officials to deliver.”
He added: “His incompetent handling of the Megrahi affair, corroboration, stop and search, office and control-room closures have all been characterised by his view that everything is now someone else’s responsibility.
“His absence in the armed police debate was, in my view, the final straw.”
Mr Pearson said the argument put forward by Mr MacAskill that he had been acting to avoid political interference “doesn’t wash” and accused him of being preoccupied with “politics and independence instead of governance and police scrutiny”.
A motion claiming the Justice Secretary had “failed to provide effective governance” of Police Scotland followed unease about the stop and search of children, armed police on routine patrols and claims about the “manipulation” of crime figures, thoroughly rejected by Chief Constable Sir Stephen House.
Mr MacAskill said the principle of having no political interference in policing had been “placed at the heart” of the reform of the force and claimed policing in Scotland is now subject to more scrutiny than ever.
The decision by Police Scotland chief constable Sir Stephen House to reverse the arming of police on routine patrols showed he had moved to address concerns.
Mr MacAskill said: “Policing should not be used as a political football and Mr Pearson should stop traducing the police and the Scottish Police Authority, and should stop undermining the morale of officers and staff.”
Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell said Mr MacAskill should consider his position while Liberal Democrat Alison McInnes said he had outstayed his welcome.
Ms Mitchell called for a whistleblowers’ hotline to be set up for frontline police staff to allow them to express grievances.