The SNP has refused to apologise for party members “badgering” business representatives giving evidence to a Holyrood committee.
After almost 10 minutes of an opening statement to the Economy Committee on Tuesday, CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan was cut off by MSP Mike MacKenzie, who said: “Have you any idea how long this polemic is going to continue for, because we do have questions?”
Mr McMillan, who continued for a few more minutes, was then pressed by SNP member Chic Brodie on his previous criticism of devolution.
“You were wrong then, weren’t you?” Mr Brodie asked. As the two men began to noisily speak over each other, committee convener Murdo Fraser was forced to intervene.
He said: “Please don’t badger the witness, let the witness answer the question.”
The Courier called SNP chief whip, Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick, to ask if he had spoken to the two members involved and if he thought their behaviour was appropriate.
However, we were referred to a press officer who said the party had “said everything we had to say” in a statement issued on Wednesday.
That statement read: “Scottish Parliament committee proceedings are matters for the committees and their members. This looks like Tory and Labour MSPs ganging up to manufacture a row.”
A Liberal Democrat spokeswoman quipped: “Sorry seems to be the hardest word for the SNP.”
Under Scottish Parliamentary rules, the conduct of MSPs in committees is the responsibility of the group’s convener. Holyrood insiders praised the job Mr Fraser did getting a handle on proceedings.
The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP said: “We had some robust questioning of the witnesses from committee members.
“The witnesses we had were all very experienced and very capable of responding in an equally robust fashion.”
Mr McMillan, who is outspoken against independence, added: “People want a robust debate about the economic implications of independence, so it’s right that there is proper balanced parliamentary scrutiny of all the evidence.”