Holyrood first as MSP is ordered out

CAROLYN Leckie, a Scottish Socialist, yesterday became the first MSP to be told to leave the debating chamber for "disorderly behaviour", after a row with George Reid, the Presiding Officer.

Just before the start of First Minister’s Questions, Ms Leckie tried to raise a point of order with Mr Reid over the nursery nurses strike. When Mr Reid told her it would be better to make her point of order later, she protested.

As Ms Leckie, the SSP MSP for central Scotland continued her protest - Mr Reid told her to sit down.

Ms Leckie continued shouting until the Presiding Officer then put her on a final warning and asked: "Will you stand please and apologise?" but she stayed at her seat.

He then told MSPs: "In that case, I regret, that Miss Leckie is guilty of disorderly behaviour," and he asked her to leave the chamber.

When she showed no sign of doing so, Mr Reid told her she was compounding her offence by staying at her seat.

And after another brief pause, he suspended the sitting for five minutes.

At that point, Ms Leckie left with fellow SSP MSPs Tommy Sheridan, Colin Fox, Rosie Kane and Frances Curran. When they emerged from parliament, they were greeted with loud applause by more than 50 striking nursery nurses.

Ms Leckie said: "I think the shame is on them [MSPs] for not being prepared to discuss the cause of these women in that parliament."

Mr Reid said: "I will not have First Minister’s Questions hijacked."