JAMIE Hepburn has resigned as minister for parliamentary business after an alleged confrontation with Douglas Ross over a seagull inquiry.
The former Scottish Tory leader alleged that as he was leaving the Holyrood chamber on Wednesday 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”.
"So yesterday, yeah, I put my hand on his shoulder and probably used a few choice words I shouldn't have. That's it,” Hepburn told journalists on Thursday.
On Friday, Ross lodged a formal complaint with the First Minister over Hepburn's conduct, which he claimed amounted to "bullying".
And now, Hepburn, SNP MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, has resigned from his ministerial role after "reflecting on the incident".
In a letter to First Minister John Swinney, he said 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.
"Despite whatever annoyance I felt at that particular moment, there is a manner in which that might have been conveyed, or indeed shouldn’t have been conveyed.
"That is not in utilising the language that I did. I hope it is recognised on your part and others that this behaviour was quite out of character on my part."
He added that he did not want to "cause any distraction" by continuing as minister for parliamentary business and would be standing down with "immediate effect".
"With no sense of personal pity, having served continuously in Government for almost eleven years it is a source of regret that my tenure in Ministerial office comes to an end in this fashion," Hepburn added.
"In the immediate period it will be the greater part of what is reported out of my time in office, but I hope it is felt that I have made a positive contribution across the various roles I have held serving in your government and that of your two predecessors.
"Others will of course be the judge of that."
In response, Swinney said he accepted Hepburn's resignation with "much personal regret" and that he was "deeply grateful" for his work as minister for parliamentary business.
"I know there will be no one more frustrated than you over this one slip in your normal approach of courtesy and respect to all," the First Minister added.
Swinney noted Hepburn's work delivering the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 while he was health minister, and that he was instrumental in establishing Consumer Scotland while business minister.
"As we progress toward independence, I appreciate the work that you carried out as Minister for Independence to make the case for a better future for our nation," Swinney said.
"And during the Covid pandemic, I recall our work together in supporting the business sector and your efforts to support the recovery in higher and further education during your time in the Education portfolio.
The First Minister added: "Despite your decision to step down, you will continue to play an important role in our Party and in public life, as well as continuing to be a vocal advocate for the people of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth."
We told how speaking to journalists after FMQs, Ross said: "The behaviour that I experienced from the minister is absolutely against what is in the ministerial code I can see no way he can continue in his role in Government.
"Particularly in a role which means he has to work with MSPs.”
During the alleged incident, the minister reportedly told Ross "you and your f****** statements, so many f****** statements, do you think I have time for your f****** statements", in regards to the Tory MSP's calls for a summit on seagulls to be suspended and the issue debated in Holyrood again.
"I accept I shouldn't have done that," Hepburn said on Thursday, adding that he should have “kept his cool” after the pair clashed in the Chamber over an upcoming seagull summit.
Hepburn's replacement will be announced in due course, it is understood.
