The SNP has called on Ruth Davidson to sack a Highland MSP from his frontbench role – after he skipped a parliamentary committee to referee a Champion’s League match in Portugal.
Tory justice spokesman Douglas Ross missed a key Holyrood meeting to act as an assistant official during Sporting Lisbon versus Real Madrid.
The regional MSP, who was elected in May, also missed a meeting of Moray Council’s policy and resources committee, which he can attend in his role as a local councillor.
Mr Ross – the Tory’s justice spokesman – has faced calls from the SNP’s Ben Macpherson to resign following his absence from the justice committee on Tuesday.
A Scottish Conservative spokesman accused Mr Macpherson of opportunism, arguing that the SNP MSP had asked Mr Ross to speak to football clubs in his constituency about refereeing.
But Mr Macpherson, who sits on the justice committee, suggested this was not the first time Mr Ross had been absent because of his other duties.
Making reference to Mr Ross’s roles as an MSP, referee and local councillor, Mr Macpherson said: “The arrogance and blatant disrespect of ‘three jobs’ Tory Douglas Ross is simply staggering.
“Last time the whistle was blown on one of his refereeing junkets the Tories claimed it was just a ‘one off’. But he’s at it again – and this time it should be a straight red card.
“Obviously he values his £40k-a-year weekend job – and all-expenses paid trips to Lisbon and other European cities – more than his responsibilities as an MSP and local councillor, demonstrating complete contempt for the people who elected him.
“If Douglas Ross can’t pitch up to do his job, it’s time for relegation – he should either take a step back from refereeing or stand down from Holyrood’s justice committee with immediate effect, and Ruth Davidson should give him the boot from her frontbench team.”
But the Scottish Conservatives argued Mr Macpherson was being opportunistic in his criticism of Mr Ross.
A spokesman for the party said: “Earlier this year Ben Macpherson asked Douglas to kindly speak to clubs in his constituency about refereeing – presumably this invitation has now been rescinded.”