A government minister has admitted directing “choice words” towards former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, but has denied assaulting him.
Minister for parliamentary business Jamie Hepburn spoke out on Thursday after Ross claimed he was “physically assaulted and verbally abused” by him.
Ross has called for John Swinney to sack Hepburn and said he would report the incident to police.
However it is understood police have not received a complaint regarding the incident as of Thursday afternoon.
Hepburn told STV News that he had used language that he “shouldn’t have” in an incident with Ross on Wednesday, but insisted he only placed his hand on Ross’ shoulder and did not grab him as claimed.
“I will freely fess up to things I’ve done, but I won’t apologise for things I’ve not done,” Hepburn told reporters.
“Yesterday, I put my hand on [Ross’] shoulder and probably used a few choice words I shouldn’t have. That’s it.”
Hepburn added: “I conducted myself in a fashion yesterday I have not conducted myself in before.
“If he wants to speak to me, I’ll freely speak to him.”
When told by STV News that Ross claimed he was “afraid” to enter the chamber for a debate where Hepburn would be present, he responded: “I find that hard to believe.”
Seagull row
Ross said he believes the issue started on Wednesday afternoon when he raised the issue of seagulls once again in the parliamentary chamber.
He said the alleged altercation was about “asking [the minister] for too many statements”.
Ross alleged Hepburn grabbed him and swore in his face.
“To begin with, I was shocked and kind of caught off guard because I thought it was a joke,” Ross said.
“Then [his grip] got tighter and tighter as he continued to grab on and got more and more aggressive. I realised it was not a joke; he was not being light-hearted; he was being deadly serious and aggressive in his nature.”
“The language [Hepburn] used was ‘you and your f*****g statements, so many f*****g statements. Do you think I’ve got f*****g time for your f*****g statements?'” Ross said.
He said it was “very clear” that Hepburn was getting “angrier and angrier and struggling to control his anger”.
Calls for Swinney to sack Hepburn
Ross called on the First Minister to take a “zero-tolerance approach to threatening and intimidating behaviour by his ministers” following the incident, noting that Hepburn was not in the parliamentary chamber on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters, Ross said: “I know John Swinney, and I think he would be very uncomfortable with this. I would expect him to take the right approach and sack his minister.”
The Presiding Officer said she expected all members to “take their responsibilities under the code of conduct seriously”.
Speaking after FMQs, First Minister John Swinney, who was in Windsor on Wednesday for the state banquet held for US President Donald Trump, was asked about the allegation by journalists.
He said: “It’s the first I’ve heard about it. Obviously I was away yesterday so I don’t have any knowledge about it.”
However, he said he would “consider these issues”.
The Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament have been contacted for comment.
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