Pam Gosal calls for apology from Maggie Chapman over ‘defamatory’ comments

Tory MSP Pam Gosal has accused Green MSP Maggie Chapman of “clear defamation” in a row over LGBT education in schools.

Gosal raised the matter in parliament on Thursday, calling for a retraction and apology from Chapman.

She also asked the presiding officer whether Chapman had broken the MSP code of conduct.

Her comments follow a report in The National newspaper over a letter she sent to East Dunbartonshire Council relating to the involvement of two primary schools in an LGBT Youth Scotland project.

The MSP said she was “deeply disturbed” by the schools’ participation because the charity was geared towards 13-25-year-olds, “not children of primary school age”.

The council has confirmed LGBT Youth Scotland is not working in the school but is instead involved with professional development for staff, following Scottish Government guidance relating to LGBT-inclusive education.

Chapman, who is the Greens equalities spokesperson, was critical of the letter, saying Gosal “wishes to silence entire groups of people”.

She added the Tory MSP was “categorically more of a risk to children than LGBT Youth Scotland’s project in primary schools”.

Gosal said: “I view this as clear defamation of my character, therefore I would hope that the member would apologise and retract these comments.

“Can I ask you, presiding officer, whether you were aware of these comments by Maggie Chapman MSP and if not, now that you have heard them, whether you believe they conform to the code of conduct?”

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone said that while the matter raised was not a point of order about parliamentary business, “I wish all members of parliament treat one another with courtesy and respect at all times.”