Ref MP has Barcelona match date

A Scottish Tory MP is set to miss a debate and vote on welfare policy because he will be running the line at a Champions League football tie in Barcelona.

Douglas Ross has been listed as assistant referee at the Camp Nou stadium for tonight’s match against Greek side Olympiacos.

The game kicks off at 7.45pm UK time – 45 minutes after MPS at Westminster are expected to vote on a Labour motion calling for the controversial rollout of universal credit to be postponed.

The Government could face a potentially embarrassing revolt on the motion, with reports suggesting up to 25 Tory MPS could be willing to rebel over concerns about claimants facing delays to get money under the system.

But the absence of Mr Ross suggests that Tory whips have adopted a relaxed approach and could mean the Conservatives repeat the ploy they used to avoid a potential rebellion in previous Labourled debates in the Commons by abstaining en masse.

Mr Ross ousted the SNP’S Westminster leader Angus Robertson to win the Moray seat in June’s general election and the Tories insisted his constituents supported his refereeing work.

In the Commons register of interests, Mr Ross has declared earnings of more than £2,700 for his work as an assistant referee in Scotland and Europe.