A TORY MSP has fumed as reporters were put behind barriers in the Scottish Parliament.
Russell Findlay, who worked as a journalist before his election to Holyrood in 2021, argued the barriers were shielding ministers from “legitimate media scrutiny”.
A photograph shared by the Glasgow MSP showed reporters, camera crews and photographers huddled behind queue barriers.
They were erected on the same day Health Secretary Michael Matheson faced intense media scrutiny after racking up an £11,000 data roaming bill on his Parliament-issued iPad while on holiday in Morocco.
He has blamed the bill on his children streaming football matches, including an Old Firm game on January 2, despite previously insisting it had been used for official business and not personal use.
Findlay wrote: “Journalists attempting to ask questions of Humza Yousaf and Michael Matheson have been herded behind a barrier.
“They’ve been told MSPs are worried about safety. I’m not.
“The rotten SNP government should not be protected from legitimate media scrutiny.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Parliament said: “The barrier was put in place by the Parliament to ensure all building users have free movement in and around this busy area.
“The Parliament made the Scottish Parliament Journalists’ Association and relevant broadcasters aware of the intention to do this and media helped agree the layout which ensured they could access members for interview without restriction.”
