The Scotsman

MSP makes apology to Parliament for outburst

- By BETH MURRAY

Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-hamilton has apologised again, this time to the Scottish Parliament, for his foul-mouthed outburst last Thursday during a Parliament­ary zoom meeting.

Mr Cole-hamilton, deputy convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, was seen in a clip appearing to mouth “f *** you” to minster maree Todd while his microphone was on mute.

Mr Cole-hamilton addressed Parliament yesterday to issue a formal apology for his actions.

He said: “I wanted to take the opportunit­y, the first opportunit­y in parliament­ary time, to try to make things right.

"On Thursday, in an exchange on children's rights with the Minister Maree todd, i was captured on camera, mouthing language that was neither parliament­ary nor respectful. I apologise unreserved­ly to the Minister. Each of us in this chamber should strive to reflect the better natures of the people we are sent here to serve, and I am very sorry, and I will reflect on that.”

His outburst was in response to SNP members of the committee saying that legislatio­n incorporat­ing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (uncrc) into scottish law should not be enacted until a year after the bill received royal assent.

The Liberal Democrat had previously apologised on twitter to ms todd for his outburst after she tweeted that the foul language did appear to be aimed at her and that an explanatio­n for the “face contorted with anger” was also required.

Mr Cole-hamilton said he was “frustrated” by the Government­s “backslidin­g on children’s rights again”.

 ??  ?? 0 Alex Cole-hamilton says sorry to Holyrood
0 Alex Cole-hamilton says sorry to Holyrood

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