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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 06 January 2026

06 Jan 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Complaint

Mason, John Ind Glasgow Shettleston Watch on SPTV

I will be very brief, Presiding Officer. I have to say that I find this an extremely strange scenario. We have one MSP over there who is seeking to undermine the judicial system of this country, and we have another MSP over here who has made a minor technical breach of the code of conduct.

The convener made a couple of interesting comments that jumped out at me. First, he said that “damage could be done”. I suggest to him that such damage could be done by the MSP over there, not by the MSP over here. He also talked about natural justice. Natural justice would do something with the MSP over there, not the MSP over here.

So what do we do? We ignore the substantive issue and we jump on a minor breach. That seems to me very much a case of forgetting the spirit of the law and focusing far too much on the letter of the law. To put it another way, we need to get things into perspective. Overall, I suggest that we accept that Ash Regan did breach the code. I do not know whether she did so consciously or not, but I suggest that we admonish or reprove her, and do not suspend her.

In the same item of business

The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20269, in the name of Martin Whitfield, on the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee’s ...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

As convener of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, I have the responsibility of lodging and speaking to motions seeking the Parliame...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Reform) Reform

Can the convener tell us whether Ash Regan ended up making a complaint?

Martin Whitfield Lab

I am unable to answer that question, because no complaint has come via the independent commissioner to my committee that I am aware of. However, section 9.1 ...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Martin Whitfield Lab

I will do if he is very quick.

Liam Kerr Con

I am genuinely listening to what Mr Whitfield is saying, and I am trying to work out what is best to do. I wonder whether the committee convener can help me ...

Martin Whitfield Lab

I can certainly endeavour to do so—but I have no intention of stepping across the First Minister’s responsibility for the Scottish Government and the ministe...

Ash Regan (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Ind

Over these past decades, public trust in this Parliament has declined significantly, and that is every member’s joint responsibility. Confidence in this inst...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con

Will the member give way?

Ash Regan Ind

If I will get the time back, Presiding Officer.

The Presiding Officer NPA

I call Rachael Hamilton.

Rachael Hamilton Con

Miss Regan’s letter to the Presiding Officer and the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee expressed concerns about Maggie Chapman’s attack...

Ash Regan Ind

I confirm to the member that I did not send a complaint to the Ethical Standards Commissioner and that both the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I call John Mason. 17:59

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Ind

I will be very brief, Presiding Officer. I have to say that I find this an extremely strange scenario. We have one MSP over there who is seeking to undermine...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I call Martin Whitfield to wind up the debate. 18:00

Martin Whitfield Lab

I thank those who have contributed to this debate. Section 9.1 of the code of conduct, on the enforcement of the rules, states: “Members must not disclose,...

The Presiding Officer NPA

That concludes the debate on the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee’s ninth report in 2025.