NICOLA Sturgeon has been caught apparently calling a Labour MSP either "an idiot" or "ignorant" after her microphone was left on at the end of First Minister's Questions.
The SNP leader took exception to the behaviour of Dr Richard Simpson, who had been shouting across the chamber as she responded to a question about mental health and later intervened as she answered a query on abuse in care homes, when he appeared to throw her off her stride.
After presiding officer Tricia Marwick called an end to the session, Ms Sturgeon was heard to say "Richard Simpson is an i..." before her microphone cut off.
Watch: MSP says @RSimpsonMSP "is an id..." at end of #FMQs. Who said it? pic.twitter.com/sbUjE6KZ6b
— Alan Roden (@AlanRoden) November 26, 2015
A spokesman for the First Minister did not deny that it was Ms Sturgeon's voice that had been picked up, but claimed the word she used was "ignorant" rather than "idiot". Another source close to Ms Sturgeon later claimed that she had called Dr Simpson "an ignorant oaf".
The spokesman said: "She didn't say he was an idiot. The word she used was ignorant. The FM is quite happy to stand by that. It's an ignorant thing to do to shout across the chamber in the middle of an exchange.
"Richard Simpson seemed to think he was in a debate, he shouted out will the member give way. That's a first for me at FMQs. The member didn't give way, but she did think it was a rather ignorant thing to do."
A spokesman for Scottish Labour said: "Compare and contrast. Richard Simpson is a former GP and psychiatrist with over thirty years experience serving patients.
"The First Minister was Health Minister when training places for nurses were slashed, helping turn a NHS winter crisis into a problem all year round. Dr Richard Simpson was calling for carers to be paid a living wage, what does the First Minister find ignorant or idiotic about that?"
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