JAMIE Hepburn has apologised for his conduct following allegations of “assault” by Douglas Ross.
The former parliamentary business minister, who resigned from the post on Friday, said he “regrets” his behaviour. He apologised to Ross, First Minister John Swinney and MSPs in the Holyrood chamber.
Ahead of MSPs debating amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill on Tuesday, Hepburn raised a point of order.
He said: “I promise not to detain colleagues for too long, I know we will be busy this evening.
“Presiding Officer, I thank you for allowing me to make this point of order.”
He added: “I rise to refer to my conduct last week, which has precipitated me standing down from ministerial office. “I have apologised directly to Mr Ross, I reiterate that apology now.
“I apologise to the First Minister, and yesterday, of course, I apologised to you, Presiding Officer.
“I think it is appropriate, though, that I also apologize to this chamber and to all colleagues.
“For those of us who love this institution, it's important that we all act in a manner that does not bring it into disrepute.
“I regret that my normal conduct, that people would recognise I would not normally conduct myself in such a fashion, I regret that lapse last week, and I wish to apologize to all colleagues.”
Ross could then be seen clapping in response to Hepburn’s statement.
Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone said: “Thank you, Mr. Hepburn, I note your remarks, and members know the responsibilities that are placed on all of us, and I expect all members to take those obligations under the Code of Conduct seriously, both within and outwith the chamber.”
Last week, Ross alleged that as he was leaving the Holyrood chamber he was “physically assaulted and verbally abused” by Hepburn.
Hepburn denied that he had hurt Ross during the incident, but admitted he put his hand on his shoulder and used “industrious language”.
On Friday, Ross lodged a formal complaint with the First Minister over Hepburn's conduct, which he claimed amounted to "bullying", with Hepburn resigning later that day.
The SNP MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth said in a letter to First Minister John Swinney that "irrespective" of whether or not he breached the ministerial code, as Ross has claimed, he had "not acted in accordance with my own personal code of practice".
"This decision is one that I feel is for the best in these circumstances and the one that for my own part feel is the appropriate course of action," Hepburn said, adding that he "always tried to act courteously" with colleagues in the SNP and other parties.
"There is no denying that my interaction with Douglas Ross fell well short of that standard," he added.
The incident was sparked after Ross railed against a seagull summit during a parliamentary business motion.
Hepburn was replaced as Parliamentary Business Minister by Graeme Dey.
