A debate on gender recognition legislation was suspended tonight after protesters hit out at MSPs voting on amendments in the Scottish Parliament.
MSPs are currently debating the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill ahead of a vote on Wednesday evening.
One amendment, tabled by Tory MSP Russell Findlay, would place barriers in the way of convicted sex offenders being able to apply for a gender recognition certificate (GRC). The amendment was defeated by 59 votes to 64 with two abstentions.
Following the announcement of the result, Deputy presiding officer Annabelle Ewing said: "I call amendment 94 in the name of Claire Baker already debated."
The protester then shouts: "Shame on all of you. There is no democracy in here. Shame on you."
After shouting from the public gallery a number of people could be seen leaving, while another member of the public tells them to "shut up".
Ewing then decided to suspend parliament while the gallery was cleared. She said: "We'll have to clear the galleries now, thank you. We will suspend the sitting for a few minutes."
More than 150 changes to the Bill will be voted on by MSPs on Tuesday and Wednesday, including background checks for applicants, potential punishments for fraudulently obtaining a GRC, the impact of the Bill on the Equality Act and a review of trans prisoners
As well as Findlay's move to restrict applications from sex offenders, fellow Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton sought to ensure the minimum age for a GRC application would remain at 18 instead of 16, as the legislation proposes.
The session in Holyrood began with apparent attempts by the Scottish Tories to delay proceedings, tabling four amendments to the agenda from four members, forcing a vote on the timetable for the consideration of amendments, raising a further motion which MSPs had to vote on and a number of points of order.
Ahead of the session Tory MSPs tried to delay proceedings by tabling amendments to the parliamentary agenda, forcing a vote on the timetable for the consideration of amendments.
After a delay of more than an hour, MSPs began debating amendments which went on late into the night and are set to continue on Wednesday before a vote.
Scottish Lib Dems leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the Bill has not been rushed and all parties want change around gender legislation.
He said: “Far from being rushed or haphazard, today’s debate comes after years of work in Scotland. Almost seven years ago, all parties in the Scottish Parliament pledged to introduce gender recognition legislation in their manifestos and the first consultation took place in 2017."
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