EXCLUSIVE: The former Scottish Tory leader, who is convener of the Education Committee, will take part in the Holyrood session virtually from the the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross (Image: PA)
Douglas Ross is snubbing a top education summit after agreeing to fly out to a sun-kissed island near the Bahamas.
The former Scottish Tory leader will not be at the Holyrood session in person as he will be in the Turks and Caicos Islands for a seminar.
Ross criticised Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth last month after she missed Holyrood business to campaign in a council by-election.
The Conservative MSP, who is now the convener of Holyrood’s Education Committee, said at the time: “Will Jenny Gilruth, not in her usual condescending way, give an apology to this parliament for missing this session, but more importantly, an apology to our pupils, our parents and our teachers for the disrespect she showed?”
Gilruth and other SNP Ministers are set to appear in front of the Committee on June 11th, but Ross will not be in the room.
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He will be 4,000 miles away in the North Atlantic on Commonwealth Parliamentary Association business and will log in to the meeting from abroad.
His Turks and Caicos Islands trip involves an “election observation mission” and “post election seminar”.
Weather forecasts show the temperature on the Islands will hit 30 degrees when he is there, while a tourism website makes clear the location’s key attraction:
“Our spectacular beaches and pristine marine environment are the defining feature of the country, and are the primary attraction for tourists. There are hundreds of beautiful beaches and coasts across our many islands to discover.”
An SNP source said Ross, who had to leave the Holyrood chamber last week over claims he heckled First Minister John Swinney, had made a gaffe:
“Throughout his time at Holyrood, Douglas Ross has treated his role as an MSP as a part-time gig to fit around his other jobs – including his various jaunts across Europe as an assistant referee.
“This has been a bit of an embarrassing week for Mr Ross after he was removed from the Chamber for his poor behaviour on Thursday. After his tirade of unjustified claims about other members’ parliamentary attendance it is now somewhat ironic that Mr Ross will be logging in from near the Caribbean.”
A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: “Douglas will be attending this meeting and holding the SNP’s education secretary and her colleagues to account.”
Ross’ time as Scottish Tory leader was dogged by claims he was not fully committed to the job. As well as being an MSP, he remained as an MP and was paid to be a linesman at football matches.
He quit as leader during the general election campaign after he enraged colleagues by announcing he wanted to stay on as an MP. He will stand down as an MSP next year.
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