THE Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer has expressed his fury over Reform's walk-out stunt during Tuesday's independence referendum debate, telling party leader Malcolm Offord he will not "tolerate" such behaviour.
Offord and his MSPs received a brutal dressing-down from Kenneth Gibson at the end of Wednesday night's decision time, warning Reform that stunts like these in the future could reduce their likelihood of being called to speak or having amendments selected.
With First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney having called a debate on Scotland’s right to decide this week, Offord had insisted the issue of the constitution is a reserved matter and should not be discussed.
When his appeals to Presiding Officer Gibson failing, Offord branded the debate a “farce” and led his MSPs in a walkout.
While the move won the party some headlines, it has resulted in a serious warning from Gibson this evening, with Reform tonight being accused by the Presiding Officer of a "gross discourtesy" to their parliamentary colleagues.
Gibson first took issue with the suggestion that reserved issues should not be discussed in the Parliament, arguing that over 27 years, MSPs have been free to deliberate a range of topics. "I consider this central to healthy democratic debate," he told the Chamber.
He then stressed the importance of MSPs engaging in the Chamber in "good faith", using the correct mechanisms to express their disapproval of any particular Chamber business.
"I expect elected members to behave in good faith regarding parliamentary business," Gibson said.
"A function of the Parliamentary Bureau is to propose the business programme motion, which is then considered by the entire Parliament.
"If a member or party has a concern with the proposed business programme, the Parliament’s procedures provide for those concerns to be expressed at Bureau and when the motion is moved.
"Members can also vote against a business motion in the Chamber."
As Offord glared from his desk, Gibson then directly addressed the stunt.
"I consider the actions of Reform UK in leaving the Chamber during yesterday’s debate, given they had said not a word against the proposed motion at Bureau or in the Chamber - and, indeed, even lodged an amendment to the motion for debate the previous day - to be a gross discourtesy to everyone in Parliament and deeply disappointing," he said.
"I expect parties and members to express any objections they may have to debating or statement topics through the procedural mechanisms available to them, rather than engaging in the behaviour we saw yesterday.
"I therefore want to make clear that I will not tolerate this chamber being used for such stunts.
"Anyone choosing to do will find the likelihood of being called or have amendments selected greatly diminished.
"I hope that is well understood by all."
Reform MSPs could be seen smirking between themselves after the telling-off.
