The article criticises Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson for reprimanding Reform UK MSPs after they walked out of a debate on Scottish independence. It argues that Gibson’s response is inconsistent because, as an SNP politician in 2000, he himself dramatically left a committee meeting after objecting to a decision, raising questions about whether different standards are being applied.

The piece recalls that Gibson threatened to reduce Reform MSPs’ opportunities to speak or have amendments selected if they staged further “stunts”. It also questions his impartiality, suggesting that Reform’s protest reflected frustration over Holyrood debating issues outside its remit, while portraying the independence motion as political theatre organised by First Minister John Swinney.