Neil Findlay withdraws remark calling Nicola Sturgeon a "liar", asking that "dishonest" be used instead

Labour MSP Neil Findlay has a remark calling Nicola Sturgeon a “liar” during FMQs, and asked that the word be replaced with “dishonest” instead.

Labour leader Kezia Dugdale questioned the First Minister on cuts to local authority budgets, prompting Nicola Sturgeon to refer to, “Labour’s policy of raising the basic rate of income tax for every worker in our country earning £11,000 and above.”

At this point Labour MSP Neil Findlay was heard to shout “liar” from the backbenches.

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Presiding Officer then intervened, saying: “A remark came across the chamber. I did not quite hear it but, from the reaction in the chamber, a word was used that is clearly unparliamentary. I will review the Official Report. If the member who used that word wishes to admit it and withdraw it now, that would be helpful. If not, I will take action this afternoon.”

Findlay make a statement in the chamber later in response, saying: “At today's FMQs I made a comment which I now understand to be unparliamentary.

"If that is the case then I withdraw the term attributed to me. However, at the same question time session the FM described Labour's support for a modest tax increase on those earning £20,000 to end the government's austerity as dishonest and goes on to accuse Labour of perpetrating a con trick.

"I therefore withdraw the term attributed to me that the parliament finds unparliamentary and would instead substitute it with the term used by the first minister today.”

Marwick said she would “consider the matter further".