A NEW Reform MSP has been jeered at Holyrood after he called an SNP MSP "dishonourable".
While energy minister Stephen Gethins used a debate at Holyrood to call for powers over energy to be devolved, he described Reform MSP Duncan Massey as "an honourable member".
This is a term used in Westminster – where Gethins has only just given up his seat after being elected to Holyrood – but is not used in the Scottish Parliament.
This was met with laughs from SNP leader John Swinney and others, including Gethins.
He then went on to state: "To describe climate change as being on faith-based terms is a scandal, and nobody else in this parliament should stand for that kind of nonsense."
Gethins gave way to Massey, to which the Reform MSP opened with: "First of all to the dishonourable member, I would say –".
Jeers can be heard as Presiding Officer Kenny Gibson intervenes, and tells Massey: "Now, now, I don't think you can say that either. Come on."
Gethins was arguing against current arrangements with leave Scots facing some of the highest energy bills in Europe.
That is before industry regulator Ofgem increases the price cap by 13% from July 1 to £1862 a year for the average household – an increase of £221.
MSPs went on to vote by 70 to 54 to support the government motion calling “for all energy powers to be immediately devolved to the Scottish Parliament”, however, the UK Government quickly rejected the calls.
Most energy policy is reserved to the UK Parliament, including electricity generation and transmission, and oil and gas licensing.
A spokesperson for the Scotland Office said the SNP Government “needs to concentrate on using the powers it has to get the basics right”.
