Tory MSP faces Holyrood ban over question breach

A millionaire Tory MSP is facing a Holyrood ban for failing to register an interest when asking questions.

Alexander burnett now faces being be barred from lodging any written questions for two weeks after the recommnen-dation yesterday by the Scottish Parliament’s Standards Committee.

It comes after former SNP MSP Christian Allard made a complaint the Conservative member had failed to register an interest he had in a housing development in Banchory when he put forward five questions in August 2016.

The Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life investigated the matter and concluded Mr Burnett, the MSP for Aberdeenshire West, was in breach of the regulations.

Standards Committee convener Clare Adamson said they agreed with this and added they considered “the breach justifies the imposition of a sanction on Alexander Burnett”.

MSPS at Holyrood will now be asked to agree the two week ban on Mr Burnett lodging questions.

Mr Burnett said yesterday he was acting in light of constituents’ concerns but accepts the ruling.