A Tory cabinet minister declared yesterday there must be “something in the water” in Scotland as he mocked the alleged SNP love triangle.
Leader of the Commons Chris Grayling also said he was having second thoughts over comments made to him by the SNP’s Angus MacNeil about when to “put the ram in with the ewes”.
The remarks came as it emerged a second watchdog has been urged to investigate the conduct of the Western Isles MP and SNP Deputy Leader Stewart Hosie.
Labour MP Graham Jones has now complained to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) in relation to their accommodation expenses amid allegations of affairs.
He has asked the body – created to independently oversee MPs’ expenses – to look into the claims “to ensure that the expenses system has not been compromised”.
Both men are alleged to have had an affair with journalist Serena Cowdy. Claims have also been made that she stayed with Mr MacNeil at a London hotel.
The latter, 45, announced his separation from his wife last year, while Mr Hosie, 53, and wife Shona Robison, Scotland’s Health Secretary, revealed on Sunday they were separating.
The latest intervention follows a letter earlier this week from Jackson Carlaw, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, to Kathryn Hudson, the parliamentary commissioner for standards.
The SNP has said any suggestion of financial impropriety in respect of expenses is “totally wrong”.
Yesterday’s spat in the Commons came after Scottish Affairs committee chairman Pete Wishart criticised the Conservatives’ conduct during the EU referendum campaign.
Mr Grayling said it was not the week for the SNP to be preaching about “stories in the tabloids”.
He added: “I’ve read the news, there has to be something in the water in Scotland.
“Mr Speaker, as you’ll remember me telling the House a few months ago the honourable member for the Western Isles (Mr MacNeil) wrote to me about recess dates because he wanted to put the ram in with the ewes.
“At that time I thought he was talking about sheep.”
The office of the parliamentary standards commissioner said Mr Carlaw’s correspondence had not yet been received, while Ipsa confirmed it had received an e-mail in relation to the two MPs which would be considered.
Mr MacNeil, who has said the cost of his accommodation complies with Ipsa rules, chooses to stay in hotels while working in Westminster, renting out the flat he owns in the capital and claiming the cost of the hotels back in expenses. MPs do not have to disclose details of any guests to the authorities.
