DOUGLAS Ross has been slapped down by Holyrood's Presiding Officer after he complained about being ejected from the chamber last week.
The former Scottish Tory leader had once again disrupted First Minister's Questions when he was asked several times to leave the chamber for refusing to follow the rules.
On Tuesday, Ross raised his ejection under a point of order ahead of a ministerial statement on a just transition in Aberdeen and the North East.
Ross said: "Presiding Officer. Following your decision to remove me from the chamber last Thursday, I have made several requests to meet with you to discuss this.
"So far you have refused all requests. Therefore, in the absence of–"
Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone interjected: "Mr Ross, that is not a point of order. Thank you. Please sit down. That's not a point of order. Move to topical questions."
Ross then stood up again as the Presiding Officer said: "Is this on a related – if it's on the same matter, Mr Ross, I have already ruled I am not discussing matters that are outwith the standing orders in this chamber. Thank you."
Ross then began to speak again: "Rule 3.13, you must act in a neutral manner–"
"Mr Ross, please sit down," Johnstone said. "I have acted in a neutral manner. I have addressed the point of order on Thursday.
"I am not continuing to have a dialogue about when I'm meeting you in the chamber."
Ross continued to attempt speaking, before the Presiding Officer said: "Carry on, Mr Ross."
He said: "If you're closing down all my attempts to raise this and you're refusing to meet with me, how can you be acting in a neutral manner and treating all members equally as required by you under Rule 3.13 of this Parliament?"
Johnstone said: "Mr Ross, as far as I am aware, I have not received a request to specifically meet with you.
"With regards to the points that you are making, in this chair I treat all members equally and I act in the interests of all members of this Parliament.
"We move to topical questions."
Ross tried to interject again, when Johnstone said: "Mr Ross, I have addressed your point of order. There are other items of business that the Parliament has agreed to address today.
"We're not having a series or a conversation, I'm not addressing point of order after point of order.
"There is important business that the parliament has voted to and agreed to attend to this afternoon, and it's very important that we do so.
"There are members from all parties who wish to take part in debates, who wish to put questions. Thank you."
