A SCOTTISH Tory MSP has been accused of flouting parliamentary rules in order to film the gender critical “flasher” who protested in the Holyrood chamber.
Police are probing the incident after complaints were put in about a campaigner against gender reform who flashed their genital area at MSPs while wearing a “merkin” – a pubic wig.
The protest was recorded, apparently from within the MSPs’ area of the Holyrood chamber.
SNP MSP Siobhian Brown used Twitter to accuse her Tory counterpart Douglas Lumsden of having breached the rules.
I am pretty positive it is against Standing Orders for MSPs to ‘video’ the public in the parliamentary gallery and the to pass on to press? I hope Douglas Lumsden MSP is also investigated as he sniggered away filming this. https://t.co/tQsAK3TyBh
— Siobhian Brown MSP (@Siobhianayr) December 27, 2022
She wrote: “I am pretty positive it is against Standing Orders for MSPs to ‘video’ the public in the parliamentary gallery and [then] to pass on to press?
“I hope Douglas Lumsden MSP is also investigated as he sniggered away filming this.”
Guidance published alongside the code of conduct for Scottish parliamentarians says that they should not use digital devices to “take photographs, to record proceedings or to make telephone calls”. However, the Parliament website says this guidance "does not form part of the code and is not enforceable".
The Scottish Greens’ Bryce Goodall shared a screenshot of the proceedings which appears to show Lumsden, a Tory MSP from the North East Scotland list, filming.
Beth Douglas, the Rainbow Greens’ co-convener, echoed Goodall’s accusation, claiming it is “right”.
Omg @brycejustweeted is right! The last thing you can see on the Scottish Parliament's live stream is Douglas Lumsden recording the public gallery.@dlumsden needs to report himself to @POScotParl for breaking the Parliament's standing orders, it's beyond doubt. pic.twitter.com/v85jbHmEUt
— Beth 🏳️⚧️🍉☂💜 (@pickle_bee) December 27, 2022
“The last thing you can see on the Scottish Parliament's live stream is Douglas Lumsden recording the public gallery,” she wrote.
“@dlumsden needs to report himself to @POScotParl for breaking the Parliament's standing orders, it's beyond doubt.”
Another Tory MSP, Russell Findlay, met with the “flasher” protester and other prominent gender critical activists and shared an image of himself holding a merkin.
It comes after the group was accused of working together with campaigners opposed to gender reform to fill up the public gallery for the third stage debate of the bill.
The Scottish Tories and the Scottish Parliament have been approached for comment.
