DOUGLAS Ross has been accused of “bullying witnesses” in a key Holyrood committee.
Former SNP MSP John Mason, who now sits as an independent, raised a point of order with the Presiding Officer in Holyrood on Wednesday evening to highlight the issue as a fellow member of the Education Committee.
He told the chamber that the former Scottish Tory leader "repeatedly bullies witnesses," adding, "especially female witnesses," speaking to the committee, just after Ross repeatedly grilled the principal of Edinburgh University over his six-figure salary.
“I seek your advice as to what the Education Committee should do because the convener of the education committee, Douglas Ross, repeatedly bullies witnesses who come to us – especially female witnesses – but this morning a male witness,” Mason said.
“It is embarrassing for the committee. The committee has discussed it. Mr Ross refuses to listen to the committee, and I seek your advice as to what we should do.”
In response to Mason’s accusation, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, who is in the middle of her own spat with the former Tory leader after she expelled him from the Holyrood chamber last week for heckling, said it is a “matter for the committee itself and for its convener”.
The Scottish Tories have been approached for comment.
Mathieson (above) told the committee that he does “not know the precise numbers” of his salary, telling MSPs when challenged on this: “I don’t carry that figure around in my head.”
The principal accepted he is “very well paid”, with Ross then pointing out the principal’s reported salary of £418,000 is more than the combined wages of both First Minister John Swinney and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
He added: “I was made an offer by the University of Edinburgh when I was appointed and I accepted it, and I am very satisfied with the package I was offered.”
He said his “basic salary” is “about £350,000”, adding there is a pension supplement on top of this.
In a heated exchange, Ross then asked if given the “massive cuts” the university is planning there could be a reduction in his salary, Mathieson said: “You could pay the senior team of the University of Edinburgh nothing and that would make largely no difference to the size of the expenditure challenge we face.”
Edinburgh University has already confirmed about 350 staff will leave under a voluntary severance scheme, which will save it about £18m a year.
A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: “Mr Mason's remarks confirm how out-of-touch he is with the role of committees in Parliament.”
