Scottish Government minister Kevin Stewart has said he should have handled an argument at an Aberdeen bar in a “more sensible manner”.
The Aberdeen Central MSP was out in the city centre on Sunday evening with “someone he had been seeing” and friends when he attended Cheerz nightclub.
Mr Stewart said a “witness became upset” at the sight of the him with the other person, and an argument took place in the early hours of Monday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Stewart said he was at the Out of Independence event with friends.
The 54-year-old said: “I attended an LGBT+ event with friends, including someone I had been seeing.
“We’d already had dinner that evening with others. It would have been obvious to those at the event that we were together. Regrettably another individual witnessed that and became upset.
“An argument took place and I recognise that I should have handled that in a more sensible manner.
“Beyond that, I reject any suggestion my behaviour was inappropriate.”
Mr Stewart earlier denied he was “handsy” with the man, but admitted he “lost his cool” in a row.
When confronted about this by The Sun, Mr Stewart said: “I wasn’t handsy – someone else was handsy with me.”
‘I shouldn’t have lost my cool’
Mr Stewart, who is the Scottish Government’s minister for mental wellbeing and social care, was seen leaving Cheerz nightclub in the early hours of Monday following the altercation.
It is understood he had been on the dancefloor when the heated exchange took place.
On Monday, Mr Stewart refuted claims he was kicked out of a bar following a fight, describing the incident as an “argument.” He also insisted he left the bar on his own accord.
His remarks were made as WhatsApp messages, obtained by The Scottish Sun, shed new light on the incident
A male member of the social media group, involving members of Young Scots for Independence, claimed he tried to calm Mr Stewart down urging him to stop, leave the man alone and go home.
He claims the MSP was “chucked out” of the venue following the altercation.
The man wrote: “I was trying to tell Kevin to stop and leave the guy alone and go home.”
Asked by another person what Mr Stewart had done to spark the row, he replied: “Just being a bit creepy, I suppose is the nicest word, he was drunk as f*** but that doesn’t excuse that kind of behaviour, especially from a minister.”
The group admin is understood to have shut the chat down.
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