By G.A.Ponsonby
An MSP has called for Labour’s Ian Davidson to be disciplined by the leader of the Scottish Labour Party following the MP’s bizarre rant on a BBC current affairs programme.
SNP MSP Sandra White has today written to Johann Lamont calling on her to discipline Mr Davidson and to ensure he apologises to Newsnight Scotland presenter Isabel Fraser after he launched a tirade against the presenter during a live TV interview.
Referring to Ms Fraser’s programme as ‘News Nat Scotland’, the Labour MP repeatedly ignored questions and spoke over the interviewer. The Scottish Labour MP accused presenter Isabel Fraser of being biased and claimed the Labour party had made several complaints relating to the bias.
Davidson was being being quizzed on his claim that the Scottish Parliament did not have the power to hold an independence referendum, without the permission of Westminster, when he launched his tirade of accusations.
Commenting on the Labour MP’s outburst, Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin said:
“This isn’t the first time that Ian Davidson has publicly embarrassed himself, but his extraordinary behaviour cannot simply be swept under the carpet – and he must now apologise to Isabel Fraser and BBC Scotland.
“If he continues to refuse to apologise then Johann Lamont, as his boss, must make him.
“This was a bizarre rant from Mr Davidson, and his aggressive approach to the interview did him absolutely no favours. Making such ludicrous accusations was grossly disrespectful to Isabel Fraser and everyone involved in making the programme.”
Commenting on Mr Davidson’s claim that his views were representative of the Labour party and that complaints had been made against Ms Fraser, Ms White added:
“The revelation that the Labour Party apparently shares these views more generally – and has repeatedly complained about it – raises serious questions.
“Does Johann Lamont share Ian Davidson’s outlandish belief that one of Scotland’s flagship political programmes is biased? If she does not then she must openly disown him for his comments and order him to issue a public apology.”
In the Newsnight interview, Ian Davidson revealed that the anti-independence campaign’s calls for an early referendum had not in fact been based on anything other than political expediency, stating; “we want to have a speedy referendum… We want to have a referendum because we think we’re going to win quite frankly”.
Mr Davidson also made clear his determination to see strings attached to any section 30 order relating to the referendum.
Referring to Mr Davidson’s remarks about the referendum, Ms White said:
“Ian Davidson also let the cat out of the bag by revealing that the Tory-led anti-independence campaign’s calls for an early referendum are entirely down to cynical political expediency.
“His determination to attach strings to Scotland’s referendum is a clear demonstration of why the referendum must be made in Scotland for people in Scotland. Westminster meddling will simply not be acceptable.”
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