Moray's Tory MP Douglas Ross rejects calls to resign after failing to fully record his salaries
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MORAY'S Conservative MP Douglas Ross has rejected calls to resign after he failed to fully registered his earnings at Westminster.
News broke on Saturday that the Scottish Conservative leader had failed to declare £28,218.57 in outside earnings in his register of interests at the UK Parliament.
This included £6,728.57 for work as a football match official and £10,745 for work as an MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
Douglas Ross referred himself to the standards commissioner after unearthing his error, which he later apologised for, but Moray's SNP MSP Richard Lochhead led calls for him to resign from his post as MP for Moray.
Mr Lochhead said: "Once again Douglas Ross is on the front pages with an apology linked to his three jobs.
"He needs to move beyond repeated apologies for failing to manage these jobs and choose which one he wants to do.
"He must resign as Moray's MP if he intends to stay on as an MSP.
"We have had apologies for missing key votes in parliament, missing local ceremonies with veterans and the list goes on.
"If he insists on staying on as both an MSP and MP, which in this day and age is unacceptable never mind his other job as a linesman, his arrogance and hypocrisy will be his downfall.
"We need better standards from our MPs and Mr Ross has let down the people of Moray once again."
However, Mr Ross rejected calls for him resign as Moray's MP, adding that he had always been clear that he would commit to both roles.
He said: "I made it clear at the election in May that I would continue as an MP if I was elected as an MSP.
"Since then I have donated my entire MSP salary to good causes here in Moray.
“If Richard Lochhead is really concerned about this maybe he should step down from his second job as a minister as he continues to vote against crucial upgrades to our local road network here in Moray.
"Every time he backs the SNP position rather than standing up for the people of Moray.”
