Libdem MSP Rumbles under fire for ‘spending last two months in Italy’

A LIBERAL Democrats MSP has reportedly spent the last two months in Italy – while part of his North East Scotland constituency was forced back in lockdown.

Mike Rumbles has stressed that he has been working remotely, but apologised for missing a Holyrood committee meeting investigating controversial ferry contracts and new farming laws, according to parliamentary records.

Mr Rumbles has been in Italy while an outbreak of coronavirus left his constituents in Aberdeen in a renewed lockdown, according to the Sunday Mail.

Aberdeen restaurants and pubs were closed on August 5 while travel restrictions were put in place after a local outbreak of Covid-19 cases linked to pubs in the city, before being lifted by the Scottish Government last Thursday.

After the newspaper contacted Rumbles through his party, he said: “Like so many other MSPS, I have been working remotely every day replying to constituents’ problems, liaising with Parliamentary staff, lodging Parliamentary questions and voting on each day we have had remote voting.”

He added: “In other words, I have continued to perform my Parliamentary duties remotely every single day since Parliament went into recess.

“While remote working is not by any means perfect, it is something we have all had to get used to.”

Mr Rumbles has been able to vote on Holyrood business through remote voting measures introduced as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

Italy remains on the UK’S list of “travel corridors” – which means those arriving in Scotland do not need to quarantine for 14 days when they return

But his Holyrood opponents have criticised his actions, with Scottish Greens MSP John Finnie hitting out at his “staggeringly poor judgment”.

He said: “I’m sure that Mr Rumbles’ constituents in the northeast, who have endured a local lockdown in recent weeks, will be astonished to learn he’s spent months on the continent topping up his tan.

“Everyone is entitled to a break but spending two months abroad while Parliament is sitting shows staggeringly poor judgment.”

Holyrood is normally in summer recess from June until September – but MSPS have continued to work this year amid the Covid-19 crisis.

The MSP has also released numerous statements over the summer without informing his constituents that he was out of the country.

It comes after Mr Rumbles’ party backed Conservative plans to get rid of MSPS who don’t show up for parliament.

Tory MSP Graham Simpson, who put forward the proposals, said: “It seems that Mike has been rumbled.

“My Members Bill to introduce Mackay’s Law, which would kick out MSPS who are absent for months without good reason, seeks to get the public their money’s worth from elected officials.

“In any other job, you don’t get to stay on holiday in Italy, you’ve got to show up and put in a shift.”