Labour MSP withdraws First Minister's Questions 'liar' jibe
- Published
Neil Findlay: "At today's FMQs I made a comment which I now understand to be unparliamentary."
An MSP who heckled Nicola Sturgeon during First Minister's Questions has withdrawn a contentious remark.
Neil Findlay was identified by the official record as the member who called Ms Sturgeon a "liar" during a heated session at Holyrood.
The Labour MSP said he would withdraw the remark if it was considered "unparliamentary", but said he would want to replace it with "dishonest".
Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick said she would consider the issue.
Ms Marwick had launched an investigation after the contentious remark was heard called out from the back benches during a heated debate at the weekly question session.
The Presiding Officer said she would review the official report, which later named Neil Findlay as the responsible party, saying she could "take action".
Nicola Sturgeon said the "insults" showed how "desperate" Labour were.
During a heated exchange, punctuated by Ms Marwick telling members to "stop heckling the first minister", the word "liar" was called out from the back benches, prompting an angry response from SNP members.
Calling for a "grown up debate", Ms Sturgeon said: "We know how desperate Labour are by the volume of the insults they have to sling across the chamber."
Mr Findlay withdrew his remark, but said he wished to replace it with the word "dishonest"
Later in the day, Mr Findlay raised a point of order asking to change his statement.
He said: "At today's first minister's questions I made a comment which I now understand to be unparliamentary.
"If that is the case then I withdraw the term attributed to me. However, at the same session the first minister described Labour's support for a modest tax increase to end the government's austerity as "dishonest" and accused Labour of "perpetrating a con trick".
"I therefore withdraw the term attributed to me, which the parliament finds unparliamentary, and would instead substitute it for the term used by the first minister today."
Ms Marwick said Mr Findlay had been a member of the Parliament for almost five years and should know that the word "liar" was unparliamentary.
She said: "I note what you have said and will consider the matter."
Tricia Marwick said she would review the official record and could "take action"