By Lucy Caulkette-
A Scottish minister has resigned from his position following an assault claim made against him by a political opponent. Jamie Hepburn, who served as Minister for Parliamentary Business, has denied the allegation. The claim came from Douglas Ross, the former Scottish Conservatives leader. Ross alleged that Hepburn firmly grabbed his shoulder and used “foul language” as they left the Holyrood chamber. This surprising event marks another period of political turbulence for the Scottish government.
Jamie Hepburn speaks to the media on Thursday. Pic: PA
Conservative MSP Douglas Ross speaks to the media on Thursday. Pic: PA
In his resignation letter, Hepburn stated that his interaction with Ross “fell well short of that standard” expected of him. While he denied being physical, he did admit to using what he called “choice words” with no excuse. He expressed hope that his behavior would be recognized as “quite out of character.” He added that he believed his continued presence would become a distraction. Therefore, he decided it was best to resign with immediate effect. The Scottish minister resigns and Douglas Ross publicly accepted the apology as the “correct” course of action.
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The Reason the Scottish Minister Resigns
The alleged incident was reported to police. No arrests were made in connection with the claims, but officers confirmed they were investigating the report. The Scottish parliament also stated that no CCTV footage of the alleged incident was available. The resignation of the Scottish minister resigns comes during a sensitive time for the government following the recent departure of First Minister Humza Yousaf. Jamie Hepburn was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2011. His resignation is a significant event, given the ongoing political shifts in the country. You can learn more about the powers of a minister in the Scottish government by reading this article.
Jamie Hepburn alongside Colin McAllister, chief of staff at the Scottish government, on Thursday. Pic: PA
This is a developing story, and more details will be released in the coming days. Scottish minister Jamie Hepburn quits after Douglas Ross assault accusation
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