A TORY MSP has suggested a Scottish Government minister “instigated” an attack on his parliamentary office that saw vandals daub it with Nazi symbols.

Douglas Lumsden levelled the accusation at Green co-leader Patrick Harvie at the end of a heated debate on the North Sea oil and gas industry at Holyrood.

The remark was greeted with jeers and cries of “outrageous”.

The angry exchanges occurred as Mr Lumsden, a former Aberdeen City Council leader who is now a North East list MSP, was summing up for his party. 

In an intervention, Mr Harvie accused the Westminster Tories of selecting candidates who were “outright climate deniers” and asked Mr Lumsden if it embarrassed him.

READ MORE: North East MSP calls for an end to 'hate' over Nazi graffiti

Mr Lumsden replied: “The most embarrassing thing is that we have a Scottish minister who uses language like that and who has been put in charge. It is unbelievable.”

He went on: “I draw attention to the comments of the Green minister Patrick Harvie, who joins us today, calling supporters of oil and gas in the north-east ‘far right’.”

The Herald:

The graffiti was daubed earlier this month 

Earlier this month, Mr Harvie said it was “only the hard right” who continued to deny new oil and gas extraction was “simply not compatible with preserving our life support system”.

In the chamber, Mr Harvie responded to Mr Lumsden’s taunt by saying: “No, I did not.”

He then made a point of order in which he said had used the words “hard right” and that he suspected Mr Lumsden knew that and so should withdraw his comment.

Mr Lumsden then raised the vandalism of his office shortly after Mr Harvie made his comment on the morning of December 3.

The Tory MSP said: “Only a few hours later, my constituency office was vandalised, with swastikas spray-painted on the door and windows. 

“The police are treating that as a hate crime.

“I am not telling the police how to do their job, but perhaps they should consider that a member of this Parliament instigated that attack.”

READ MORE: Greens minister Patrick Harvie refutes 'scaremongering' over oil imports if Cambo is axed

SNP Net Zero Secretary Michael Matheson shouted: “That is outrageous.”

Reacting to cries of shameful, Mr Lumsden said: “It is shameful. The language [from Mr Harvie] is shameful.”

The debate was called by the Tories in the wake of the highly controversial Cambo oilfield proposal west of Shetland being paused after Shell withdrew its 30 per cent stake.

The Tories claimed only they stood up the North East, while the SNP and Greens would be willing to run down the oil and gas industry at the cost of tens of thousands of jobs.

A spokesman for the Scottish Greens said: “The Conservatives have no problem misquoting others and calling them extremists.

"It’s about time Mr Lumsden and his colleagues checked their own language, before having a go others and drawing absurd conclusions.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has announced the full membership of the new Just Transition Commission which will report annually on progress to a greener jobs future. 

A dozen Commissioners will work alongside chair Professor Jim Skea during the current parliament, with another four providing expert industry advice on the energy sector. 

The 12 commissioners include WWF Scotland director Lang Banks, Community Energy Scotland director Ameena Camps, Net Zero Technology Centre CEO Colette Cohen, Elaine Dougall of the STUC, Boston University’s Katie Gallogly-Swan, economist Ann Pettifor, 

Sustainable Finance Professor Nick Robins, and Hannah Smith, director of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Scotland

The four expert Commissioners appointed for the transition plan for the energy sector are 

Rachel McEwen of SSE, former offshore worker and RMT regional officer Jake Molloy, Ronnie Quinn, head of the NECCUS alliance to decarbonise industry, and Harlaw Energy director Ray Riddoch. 

Just Transition Minister Richard Lochhead said: “Ensuring our journey to net zero is just and fair for everyone is critical, and the appointment of the Just Transition Commission membership marks an important step in this progress.

“I want to be clear that we will listen to, and engage with, stakeholders and workers across the sector to ensure a just transition for everyone on the journey to net zero.”

Professor Skea added: “Over the next four years, the Just Transition Commission will draw on a deep well of experience and expertise from across industry, business and finance, trade unions, environmental and community groups, and academia.

“We in Scotland have talked the talk on the need for a just transition. Now it’s time to deliver. “That must mean tough choices, hard work, and careful planning based on best evidence.”