Party leaders urged to admit errors

Nov 28 2012

The Labour and Tory leaders have been urged to "own up to their own mistakes" after Nationalists said they had made incorrect statements to Holyrood.

SNP MSP Bob Doris said Labour leader Johann Lamont, one of her MSPs James Kelly and Conservative leader Ruth Davidson had all made inaccurate comments.

He has written to the three politicians, calling on them to "have the grace to hold their hands up and correct the public record".

It comes after First Minister Alex Salmond had to ask for the official record of what is said in Holyrood to be altered, after he wrongly told Parliament there were about 18,000 people employed in renewable energy, instead of 11,000.

That led to Mr Salmond being accused of misleading Holyrood, but Mr Doris said: "Any politician can inadvertently give wrong information to Parliament.

"When it is drawn to their attention then it is only reasonable to expect that they correct the public record."

Mr Doris added: "After the sound and fury there has been from the opposition parties recently I think there can be little doubt that they should own up to their own mistakes.

"When I have made an error in the past I have corrected myself, as all MSPs should be prepared to do. Having made mistakes in the chamber, they should have the grace to hold their hands up and correct the public record.

"The need to clear things up when someone gets it wrong in the chamber applies to all MSPs, not just Government ministers.

"People rightly expect that when politicians get it wrong, they admit to their mistakes. That is what we have done and that is the same principle that other parties should uphold. I would hope that these MSPs will reflect on what they have said and accept that they need to set the record straight."