SNP accused of abusing majority

Nov 22 2012

A Labour MSP suspended from Holyrood has said his punishment is disproportionate and accused the SNP of using its majority to close down inquiries and edit out criticism.

Michael McMahon was suspended for a day for shouting "you're out of order" as Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick called for order in the chamber.

It came after it emerged the Parliament's official report had to be corrected because the First Minister gave an incorrect figure on renewable energy jobs.

In a statement shortly after MSPs were told he had been suspended, Mr McMahon said: "The Government had changed the official report and Parliament had not been informed. I believe that Parliament should have some authority to call ministers to account for that.

"She was calling for order and, mistakenly in the heat of the moment through my frustration, I made a comment that I instantly regretted.

"I accept that I have been suspended, but I think that was disproportionate. I think I am entitled to my opinion on what the decision was."

Mr McMahon called for the Presiding Officer to be given more power to hold ministers to account for the veracity of their statements. "The SNP use their majority to close down committee inquiries and edit out criticism of the Government from reports," he said. "Essentially the SNP are using their majority to further their party interests and not the national interest, at the expense of the reputation of parliament."

Announcing Mr McMahon's suspension to MSPs earlier on Thursday, Ms Marwick accused Mr McMahon of showing "gross disrespect and discourtesy to the chair".

She said: "I acknowledged that Mr McMahon apologised. Had Mr McMahon not done so, I would have referred the matter to the Parliamentary Bureau, so serious did I consider his discourtesy to the chair.

"Taking all of the circumstances into account, I have decided to exclude Mr McMahon from the chamber for the duration of today's chamber business. This is not a decision I have taken lightly."