Boris Johnson “gave a red card to Douglas Ross” – as the prime minister was forced to propose a rule change that would prevent the Scottish Tory leader from retaining his second and third jobs as football referee and MSP. The changes include a proposal that “the code of conduct for MPs should be updated to reflect that: any outdoor activity undertaken by an MP, whether remunerated or non-remunerated, should be within reasonable limits and should not prevent them from performing their duties to the fullest.” It comes after Ross failed to declare £28,218.57 in earnings out of his second job as MSP and a third job as a football referee including £6,728.57 from 16 football matches in 2020-2021 Has broken parliamentary rules after failing to make the announcement. A separate investigation by the Sunday Mail later found that Ross had also broken the rules by failing to declare income on time from 26 football games since being elected.
The Scottish Tory leader has missed several votes, important events and parliamentary meetings in Westminster and Holyrood, including running the line on the football pitch, to earn thousands of pounds from his outside interests. In order to earn money as a referee, Ross has previously been counseled for Tory Universal credit cuts, critical COVID pandemic meetings and missing votes at VJ Day services in his constituency. House SNP shadow leader Pete Wishart said: “Boris Johnson has given Douglas Ross a red card, and hung him to dry by proposing a rule-change, which would force the Scottish Tory leader to quit his second and third job as football referee. As an MP, MSP, and referee it is not possible to fulfill the full range of duties at the same time. You can’t be in three places at once, and Mr. Ross has lost important votes, debates, and repeatedly Parliamentary meetings. The Scottish Tory leader has violated the rules by ‘forgetting’ to announce his top-up salary as tens of thousands of pounds and part-time MSP in earnings out of 42 football matches. Now the prime minister has thrown Mr. Ross under the bus; it’s impossible to see how he can move all these balls and stay in his position. With each passing day, Douglas Ross loses more credibility. It is certainly only a matter of time before the Scottish Tories leave him and look for a new leader.”
Source: Title Press
