Latest news with #Johnstone
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Holyrood's ‘Speaker' accused of anti-Unionist bias after throwing out Tories' former leader
The Scottish Parliament's presiding officer has been accused of 'blatant bias' against opponents of independence after she ejected a former leader of the Scottish Tories from the Holyrood chamber. Alison Johnstone ordered Douglas Ross to leave the chamber during First Minister's Questions on Thursday, and banned him for the rest of the day. Speaking outside the chamber, Mr Ross said 'many people' were questioning if the presiding officer, a former MSP for the pro-independence Scottish Greens, was 'truly neutral' following a series of clashes with Tory members. He accused Ms Johnstone of 'taking very different approaches to nationalist politicians who step out of line compared to Unionist politicians who step out of line'. The Scottish Tories also claimed Ms Johnstone had 'shown a consistent pattern to favour certain parties at the expense of others' and demanded talks to deal with the alleged 'bias'. The Scottish Parliament said the presiding officer, whose job is equivalent to that of the Speaker at Westminster, had taken action against Mr Ross as he was a repeat offender and because of his 'persistent refusal to respect the rules of Parliament'. But Tory insiders alleged Ms Johnstone had reprimanded other Conservatives for conduct that she permitted among MSPs from other parties. This included barracking political opponents from their seats in the chamber. They highlighted how she repeatedly chastised Russell Findlay, the Scottish Tory leader, during First Minister's Questions on May 1 for failing to treat John Swinney with 'courtesy and respect'. However, she failed to give the First Minister a reprimand when he accused his Conservative opponent of 'barefaced dishonesty.' Ms Johnstone became a Green MSP for the Lothians region in 2011, but gave up her party affiliation when she was elected presiding officer after the 2021 Holyrood election. During Thursday's First Minister's Questions, Mr Ross could be heard shouting 'deflection' at Mr Swinney as he responded to questions from Mr Findlay about the Scottish Government's net zero targets. Ms Johnstone stopped proceedings and said: 'Mr Ross, you have persistently refused to abide by our standing orders. I ask you to leave the chamber; you are excluded for the rest of the day.' Her decision to immediately expel Mr Ross appeared to surprise him and other MSPs as she had previously dealt with those who shouted from their seats by issuing a warning. After he failed to move, she ordered him out a second time and he left. Ms Johnstone also warned two other Tory MSPs, Douglas Lumsden and Stephen Kerr, about 'shouting from your seat' during the session. Mr Ross said: 'I think Alison Johnstone has to seriously consider her neutral role because at the moment from the outside many people are questioning if she is truly neutral. After what she has just done, I struggled to accept that she has been neutral for all members. 'I think we have got to look at her actions against Conservatives in general, and how she has responded to comments from SNP ministers. For example, the First Minister is apparently allowed to call the Conservatives 'a disgusting party' with no sanction.' A Scottish Tory spokesman said: 'The presiding officer has shown a consistent pattern to favour certain parties at the expense of others. We will be seeking discussions to reiterate that the presiding officer should not show blatant bias.' Mr Kerr said: 'The presiding officer should be a stout defender of the rights of MSPs to hold ministers to account. Instead, we have one who appears more concerned with shielding ministers from scrutiny than standing up for the Parliament.' But a Scottish Parliament spokesman said: 'The presiding officer has warned Mr Ross on repeated occasions recently about his behaviour in the chamber. Due to his persistent refusal to respect the rules of Parliament, the member was asked to leave the chamber. ' Holyrood insiders said Ms Johnstone had warned Mr Ross about his conduct on April 3 and twice on April 22, when she asked him to 'refrain from shouting from your seat' and challenged him over whether he wanted to leave the chamber. They added that she issued a further warning on May 8. Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said: 'Anyone watching First Minister's Questions will know that for weeks and week Douglas Ross has been provoking the presiding officer in the hope that he would get thrown out, in a cynical bid for relevance. 'The presiding officer was quite right to eject him and my party has full confidence in her impartiality.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Holyrood Presiding Officer 'blatantly biased' against Unionist politicians, claim Tories
Alison Johnstone showed the red card to former SFA match official Douglas Ross during FMQs today. The Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament has been branded "blatantly biased" against Unionist politicians after she booted Douglas Ross out from FMQs today. The former Scottish Conservatives leader was ordered to leave Holyrood's debating chamber after he heckled John Swinney when the First Minister was responding to a question. Johnstone told the Tory: 'I would ask you to leave this chamber and you are excluded for the rest of the day.' Her actions resulted in the Scottish Tories accusing the Presiding Officer of 'blatant bias' against them. A party spokesperson said: 'The Presiding Officer has shown a consistent pattern to favour certain parties at the expense of others. 'We will be seeking discussions to reiterate that the Presiding Officer should not show blatant bias.' Ross said Johnstone should now 'seriously consider her neutral role'. He told reporters he represented many farmers who were left frustrated by the First Minister ducking questions. 'This is an issue that is extremely important to those individuals who are in that sector and their families and their communities, therefore they deserve to hear those answers,' he said. 'But for a member to be expelled from the chamber with no warning at all, I think may be unprecedented.' He added: "There have been concerns outwith this building about how [Johnstone] treats Conservative MSPs compared to government ministers, Green MSPs for example,' he said. 'And since this happened at lunch time, I've had senior members from other parties saying that Alison Johnstone risks losing support within the chamber for her actions.' The former Tory leader said Holyrood was 'not a library'. He continued: "There is going to be some discussion from the benches around the respective party spokespeople. That is what people watch politics for. "Now, sometimes to goes beyond the pale and action has to be taken, but I don't recall ever seeing a presiding officer take no action to try to minimise that behaviour or to warn any members before excluding them. "She reached straight for that option today, which for me raises serious concerns about it. And the speed at which she did it made me almost think it was premeditated. It didn't matter what I did today, I wonder if she was just going to go straight for that.' Ross argued the environment in the Holyrood chamber is already 'far too sterile' and Ms Johnstone had been having a 'controlling effect' on the chamber in recent weeks and months. 'You've got to look at Alison Johnstone formerly being a Green Party member, saying that she would leave her party allegiances at the door, but taking very different approaches to nationalist politicians who step out of line, compared to unionist politicians who step out of line,' he said. A Scottish Parliament spokesman said: "The Presiding Officer has warned Mr Ross on repeated occasions recently about his behaviour in the Chamber. "Due to his persistent refusal to respect the rules of Parliament, the Member was asked to leave the Chamber. This suspension is for the remainder of the day."
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Savvy interiors fans race to B&M as ‘stunning' £100 chair scanning for just £30
SAVVY shoppers are flocking to B&M to get their hands on a piece of "stunning" furniture that's been heavily reduced. So if you're looking to make an interiors upgrade but don't want to break the bank, you've come to the right place. Advertisement 2 Shoppers are racing to B&M for a discounted chair Credit: Alamy 2 The accent chair will add a stylish touch to any room Credit: Facebook/Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK One bargain hunter couldn't believe her luck after she spotted the originally priced at £100 for just £30. This works out at 70 per cent off and a huge £70 saving. Posting in the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group, which boasts 2.6million followers, they said: "These chairs are scanning at £30 in B&M! Bargain!" The Louise chair comes in cream or green and is the perfect accent piece for any home, adding a touch of style to your space. Advertisement Read more in Fabulous With a luxurious velvet finish and wooden legs, it would fit in perfectly in a dressing room or bedroom. The chair sits at 58cm wide and 72cm high, with a depth of 68cm, and can hold weight of approximately 100kg. It is no longer available on the website, so you'll have to be quick to pick it up in your nearest store. And savvy shoppers are now racing to get their hands on the bargain buy before it sells out. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Exclusive One said: "I literally just saw this. Will have to go and have a look." "I need one", cried somebody else. I went to B&M for a radiator cover & came out with £230 of furniture for £40 - here's how I nabbed such epic bargains A third wrote: "Just got the last one from ours, thank you." Another person simply hailed it as "stunning". Advertisement A fifth chimed in: "We need to pop and see if we can get one." Meanwhile, a sixth said: "I need one of these for the girls room if you see one." It's not the only offer at B&M in recent weeks. The popular store has launched a huge sale on garden kit, with the cheapest item selling for just £1. Advertisement Over 50 products have been reduced in price, including a Solar Table Lamp that is on sale for just £1. The product, which can be used to light up your garden at night originally cost £1.50 but has had its price reduced by 33%. And that is not all the retailer has also cut the price of Johnstone's Paint by 25% for those looking to do some DIY. Advertisement The paint usually goes for £15 at B&M but it is now scanning for £11.25. Those looking to pick up some garden furniture also have a chance to save £150 on a Bali 8 Seater Dining Table Set, which now costs £350 Why B&M is so good for bargains SENIOR Digital Writer, Abby Wilson, who loves a shopping trip to B&M, has shared her thoughts on why the chain is the place to go for bargain buys... WE all love B&M (especially me). It's a one-stop-shop where you can nab all things from gardenware and homeware, to snacks and cleaning supplies. Not only do we love the variety B&M offers (because after all, who can be bothered to go to five different shops anymore?!), but the prices are brilliant too. If you're on a budget, B&M is definitely worth vising - as it's full of cheap bargain buys. Not only will you find affordable items, but B&M is full of dupes too - so if you're after beauty buys without the designer price tag, you'll need to take a trip. Similar to this, the chain are eager to get on trends - so if you see something in H&M Home but are on a budget and can't justify the price, give it a few weeks and you'll probably spot something similar on the shelves in your local B&M.
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Douglas Ross kicked out of Holyrood Chamber for breaking rules
Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone made the decision shortly after First Minister's Questions began. Johnstone had to ask the former Scottish Tory chief to leave multiple times before he eventually stood up and walked out. Ross appeared to be constantly heckling during the first question of the session. As Tory MSPs could be heard talking over the discussion, Johnstone said: "Mr Ross, you have persistently refused to abide by our standing orders, and I would ask you to leave this Chamber and you are excluded for the rest of the day." As First Minister John Swinney went to continue speaking, responding Russell Findlay who was challenging the SNP over net-zero policies, Johnstone had to scold Ross once again. "Ross, I have asked you to leave the Chamber," she said. "Please do so." More to follow
Edinburgh Reporter
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
SNJO piano man brings all-star quartet to Edinburgh Jazzfest5
Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) pianist Peter Johnstone launches his International Organ Quartet's debut album, Resistance Is Futile, at Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival on Friday 11 July. Featuring New York-based vibes virtuoso Joe Locke, saxophonist Tommy Smith and Johnstone's SNJO colleague, Alyn Cosker on drums, the quartet will play the opening concert in the EJ&BF's St Bride's Centre series from 6pm. A former Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, Johnstone has toured internationally with vocalist Kurt Elling and Vienna-based American saxophonist Andy Middleton and worked with guitarists Jim Mullen, Rob Luft and Nigel Price as well as appearing extensively as pianist with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. He is also Tommy Smith's partner in a duo that plays Meadowbank Church on Wednesday 16th July and is the first graduate of the jazz course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow to return in a teaching capacity. The quartet, in which Johnstone plays Hammond organ, features music exclusively written by Johnstone. It recorded Resistance is Futile at Castlesound Studios in Pencaitland during its first set of concerts in October 2023. The St Bride's concert is part of a tour that includes the 606 Club in London. 'It's fantastic to hear such accomplished musicians as Joe, Tommy and Alyn bringing my music off the page,' says Johnstone. 'Our first tour included sell-out concerts in Glasgow and at Ronnie Scott's in London and attracted some great press comments. I can't wait to get everyone back together again for these dates in July.' Pete Johnstone Like this: Like Related
