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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Lucy Garcia

'A disgrace!': John Swinney calls out Jackie Baillie heckling

JOHN Swinney called out the deputy Scottish Labour leader for heckling him at FMQs when speaking on the importance of tackling disinformation. 

The First Minister grew agitated with Jackie Baillie when she could be heard across the chamber asking "seriously?" as he stressed the importance of "speaking truth to parliament".

Finance Secretary Shona Robison could also be heard asking Baillie if this was the level she wanted to conduct political debate on. 

Asked by the Greens whether he would be pushing to correct the record after JD Vance's disinformation about Scottish abortion clinic buffer zones, Swinney said he aimed to be someone who "stands up for the clarity of information".

As he continued, Baillie was picked up on mic heckling the First Minister.

"Yes, Jackie Baillie, seriously," an irritated Swinney responded. "Speaking truth to parliament, that's what I'm about. The Labour Party might want to -"

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone then intervened as MSPs began to speak over one another.

As the room quietened, Swinney went on: "For some reason on an issue when we are tackling disinformation in our society, Jackie Baillie believes that she should question the integrity of the First Minister speaking truth to parliament, which I do at all times.

"And Jackie Baillie and no other member can come to this parliament and say otherwise, and it's a disgrace that such behaviour takes place in this parliament."

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