By David Bol

Copyright scotsman

Douglas Ross is reporting an SNP minister to the police after claiming he was “physically assaulted and verbally abused” by an SNP minister after the former Tory leader ranted about seagulls while victims awaited a historic vote to abolish the not proven verdict. Mr Ross has 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. It has been claimed Mr Hepburn, who was not in the chamber when Mr Ross raised the alleged incident, grabbed Mr Ross for more than a minute, his “grip got tighter and tighter” and he swore repeatedly at the Tory MSP. Mr Ross has called for Mr Hepburn to be sacked and raised concerns about feeling safe in the chamber with the minister as he confirmed he will report the incident to police. Victims who were in the public gallery were reportedly upset at Mr Ross using parliamentary time to bring up his lack of access to a seagulls meeting in between the sombre debate and vote by MSPs that scrapped the not proven verdict. Mr Ross claimed the incident happened over Mr Ross using an allotted five minutes to request a ministerial statement on a seagull meeting his is struggling to obtain access to. 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 onto 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.” Mr Ross has called for First Minister John Swinney to sack Mr Hepburn. He said: “When there physical violence involved and grabbing someone in that way cannot be described in any other way “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.” Asked if 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.” 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. “I raised this yesterday afternoon with parliamentary officials. I notice the minister for parliamentary business is not in the chamber this afternoon. Therefore, will he be making a statement on this incident later today?” 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: “Yeah, 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 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”. She said: “Complaints about the conduct of a member arising in their ministerial duties are dealt with under the Scottish ministerial code and are a matter for the First Minster.”