By David Bol

Copyright scotsman

Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has claimed he was “physically assaulted and verbally abused” by an SNP minister at the Scottish Parliament. Mr Ross accused SNP parliamentary business minister Jamie Hepburn of assaulting him as he left the Holyrood chamber following the vote to approve the Scottish Government’s Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill on Wednesday. He has spoken to police and demanded First Minister John Swinney sack Mr Hepburn from office. It is claimed Mr Hepburn grabbed Mr Ross for more than a minute, his “grip got tighter and tighter”, and swore repeatedly at the Tory MSP. Mr Ross raised concerns over safety in the chamber with the minister as he confirmed he will report the incident to police. The Scottish Parliament has confirmed that no CCTV exists of the altercation. Victims who were in the public gallery were reportedly upset at Mr Ross using parliamentary time to raise his lack of access to a meeting about seagulls in between the debate and vote by MSPs that scrapped the not proven verdict. Mr Ross claimed the incident happened over him using an allotted five minutes to request a ministerial statement on the seagull meeting. An SNP source said Mr Ross’s actions were “tone deaf” and “disrespectful”. Get daily political analysis – subscribe for free to The Steamie Speaking to journalists, Mr Ross said: “I was grabbed by Jamie Hepburn, minister for parliamentary business as I left the chamber. He then started swearing in my face. He continued, as we left the chamber and then there’s a corridor outside. He continued to hold on to me. “His grab got stronger and stronger, his words got louder and more aggressive and it was very clear he was getting angrier and angrier and he was struggling to control his anger.” He added: “I think the ministerial code is very clear. The behaviour that I experience from the minister is absolutely against what is in the ministerial code. I can see no way that he can continue in his role in government, particularly in a role which means he has to work with MSPs. “I was due to be in a debate this afternoon which the minister will be speaking in and I can’t be in the chamber with him. I would worry about his reaction. If his reaction to me asking for one statement was to grab me and to swear at me in my face in an aggressive manner.” Mr Hepburn and Mr Ross were both in the chamber at the same time on Tuesday afternoon. Asked whether he was hurt by the incident, Mr Ross said: “Yes, I was hurt when he grabbed me. Someone grabbing you for a minute as you try to walk out of the chamber hurts. “The next step is for me to speak to the parliamentary police.” A Scottish Government source said “there is no way he was hurt”, adding “there are a lot of witnesses who would vouch there was no physical assault”. Raising a point of order after First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Mr Ross said: “First Minister, as I left the chamber yesterday, I was physically assaulted and verbally abused by your minister for parliamentary business, Jamie Hepburn. “I wonder if the First Minister will make a statement and take an opportunity to say that he has a zero-tolerance approach to threatening and intimidating behaviour by his ministers.” Mr Swinney told journalists that Mr Ross raising the issue was “the first I’ve heard of it”. He said: “I’ll consider these issues.” Speaking to journalists, Mr Hepburn said: “I put my hand on his shoulder, probably used a few choice words I shouldn’t have. That’s it.” He described his words as “industrious language”. Mr Hepburn: “I hold my hands up to what I’ve done.” Asked if he will apologise, Mr Hepburn said: “If he wants to speak to me, I’ll freely speak to him.” Asked about him being reported to the police, he said: “We’ll wait and see what happens.” Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone said: “This is a very serious allegation and it is important it is dealt with through the appropriate processes. “I expect all members to take their responsibilities under the code of conduct seriously and where anyone considers where their conduct of a member hasn’t met the terms of the code, a complaint can be made.” Ms Johnstone said complaints would be “initially investigated by the commissioner for the ethical standards”. A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “The Parliament takes a zero tolerance approach to bullying and harassment and any allegations of criminality should be reported directly to the police. “As the Presiding Officer said in the Chamber, this is a very serious allegation and it is important that it is dealt with through the appropriate processes.” A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers have spoken with Mr Ross. No complaint has been made and suitable advice was given.”