DOUGLAS Ross was told off by the Presiding Officer multiple times for shouting and appearing to shush a Scottish minister.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance was asked about figures obtained from Police Scotland by the Scottish Conservatives which revealed they were notified of 506 instances of sex criminals changing their names within a 23-month period between April 2023 and March 2025.
Pressed on this, Constance said she would look into it but stressed that the way information is recorded meant it would be less than that.
But Ross continued to press the Justice Secretary, shouting from the benches as she spoke and also appearing to shush her at one point.
This led to an angry Alison Johnstone telling off the Scottish Tory MSP, including asking whether he would like to leave the Chamber.
It all started when the former Scottish Tory leader pressed Constance on the number again, to which she responded: “So, let me repeat once again that, on the information that's at my disposal from Police Scotland – there are not 506.”
She then added amid shouts from the Scottish Tory benches: “I am not putting up with this.”
The Presiding Officer intervened, asking Ross to “be courteous and listen to the response quietly”.
Amid further shouts, Johnstone added: “Sorry, I did not hear what was going on there, but I would ask members to behave in accordance with our standing orders.”
But it didn’t end there, with the Presiding Officer again interrupting proceedings to tell off Ross.
“Mr Ross, I will not ask again that you refrain from shouting from your seat when you have not been called to speak. That is the last time I will ask you,” she said.
Constance then said: "Presiding Officer, perhaps it would be better if I just referred the member to the earlier three answers that I have already given on this matter, and I repeat my commitment to both Mr Kerrs to write to them further.”
Ross then raised a point of order, to which he asked the Presiding Officer: “You have been very critical of those of us who are speaking from a sedentary position, and I accept that, but can you confirm from the chair that despite being asked on three occasions, the Cabinet Secretary has not been able to inform this Parliament of how many sex offenders have changed their name.”
This led to an angry Johnstone again hitting out at Ross’s behaviour.
“Mr Ross, that is not a point of order. That is not a point of order. Mr Ross, that is not a point of order,” she said to more interruptions.
An increasingly angry Johnstone then asked: “Mr Ross, would you like to leave the chamber?
"Because if you wish to remain here, you must adhere to our standing orders.”
