A SCOTTISH Tory MSP has been accused of “cynical time-wasting” after asking Holyrood officials if they issued “multiple” parliamentary passes based on gender identity.
Stephen Kerr, the Central Scotland MSP, used a written question to ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) if more than one security pass was given to those who “identify as more than one gender identity”.
The Scottish Greens slammed Kerr’s question and said he should be "embarrassed" after asking “such rubbish”.
In a written question to the SPCB, Kerr wrote: “To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its policy is on issuing multiple parliamentary security passes to individuals who identify as having more than one gender identity.”
Clare Baker, Scottish Labour MSP, responded on behalf of the SPCB, stating: “We can confirm that security passes are not issued on the basis of gender identity.
“Our pass management system records the details necessary to ensure safe and secure access to the Parliament estate and gender identity is not a factor in the issuing of passes.”
Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman told The National: "This is cynical time-wasting from Stephen Kerr who is looking to spread division and whip up yet another sensationalist headline in the right-wing press.
"He already knows the basis on which passes are given and should be embarrassed to ask such rubbish."
It comes after Kerr was branded “ridiculous” for claiming a Holyrood committee was "hijacked" by the SNP and Greens after it agreed to undertake an inquiry into legal mechanisms to trigger an independence referendum.
Kerr fumed after a Tory bid for an inquiry on free speech was voted down by the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture committee last week.
The Scottish Conservatives have been contacted for comment.
We previously told how Scottish Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden tabled almost 1000 parliamentary questions in one month, costing £100,000 of public money.
The MSP for North East Scotland was criticised by opposition parties after submitting queries on flagpoles, light bulbs, and jars of honey in the Holyrood shop.
Lumsden submitted 987 written questions to officials, more than half of the total asked by all 129 MSPs.
He defended his actions and said he will review the amount of questions asked with members of his team.
Lumsden denied accusations that he had used AI to craft the questions.
