THE SNP group at Westminster has seen a senior MP accuse its chief whip of bullying.
Angus MacNeil, who represents Na h-Eileanan an Iar, publicly clashed with Brendan O’Hara in the division lobby at Westminster, according to multiple reports.
MacNeil was seen shouting “you’re a small wee man” at his colleague before throwing a bundle of papers across the floor.
The incident came after O’Hara, as chief whip, reportedly wrote to MacNeil on multiple occasions raising concerns about missed votes in the Commons and low parliamentary attendance.
In a veiled tweet posted on Tuesday morning, before the bust-up was first reported by gossip blog Guido Fawkes, MacNeil referenced the incident.
General Advice - Always stand up to bullies, - esp any abusing their positions - particularly those who scurry around shouting to anyone listening, "I'll get him, I'll get him, I WILL get him! - mark my words" These are people, who from school, we should get taught to face down
— Angus B MacNeil MP🇺🇦 (@AngusMacNeilSNP) July 4, 2023
“General Advice – Always stand up to bullies – esp any abusing their positions – particularly those who scurry around shouting to anyone listening, ‘I'll get him, I'll get him, I WILL get him! – mark my words’,” the Western Isles MP wrote.
“These are people, who from school, we should get taught to face down."
According to The Times, the reference to O’Hara saying “I’ll get him” was about a previous incident where MacNeil had not been in the chamber despite being asked. He was said to be campaigning to become chair of the Net Zero Committee instead.
MacNeil had been chair of Westminster’s International Trade Committee, but that was dissolved after Rishi Sunak scrapped the Department for International Trade as part of a reorganisation of government.
The Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP is seen as a more controversial figure in the SNP, often refusing to toe the party line on topics including the route to Scottish independence and, more recently, Highly Protected Marine Areas.
O'Hara (above) became the chief whip of the SNP group at Westminster after Martin Doherty-Hughes stepped back for personal reasons in January.
In the role, it is his job to make sure that other SNP MPs vote and turn up to parliamentary business as the group leader has directed them.
O'Hara also publicly welcomed the Scottish Government's decision to scrap HPMAs.
The SNP have been approached for comment.
