John Swinney has been “humiliated” after his MSPs voted against a motion to remove Maggie Chapman from a key committee role following her “appalling” attack on the Supreme Court.
Despite the SNP leader condemning the Green MSP, after she accused the court of “bigotry, prejudice and hatred” in the wake of its ruling on the legal definition of a woman, Nationalist MSPs on the equalities committee blocked a move to remove her as deputy convener.
Scottish Conservative MSP Tess White’s motion was defeated 4-3 because SNP members Karen Adam, Marie McNair and Evelyn Tweed snubbed John Swinney and voted to keep Maggie Chapman in post.
Tess White accused the SNP members of bringing parliament into disrepute by “defending the indefensible”.
Scottish Conservative shadow equalities minister Tess White MSP said: “John Swinney has been humiliated by his own MSPs defying him and shamefully voting to keep Maggie Chapman in post.
“Maggie Chapman’s appalling comments were a totally unjustified attack on the rule of law.
“Her position as deputy convener of the committee ought to be untenable. By defending the indefensible, the three SNP members have brought the Scottish Parliament into disrepute.
“This sets a dangerous and unacceptable precedent that MSPs can make incendiary attacks on the integrity of the highest court in the land with impunity.
“Words matter, especially when they are weaponised. But rather than take the heat out of a sensitive situation, Maggie Chapman doused it in petrol.
“Keeping her in post is just the latest betrayal of women and girls by the SNP.
“Cosying up to the extremist Greens is clearly more important to them than respecting the rule of law.”