A Tory MP has come under fire for skipping Parliament in order to officiate at a Champions League match.

Douglas Ross is set to be employed as an assistant referee for Wednesday night's match between Barcelona and Olympiacos.

But while the Moray MP is running the line at the Camp Nou stadium in Spain, his fellow politicians will be debating the Government's flagship welfare reforms.

The European game between the Spanish giants and Greek champions will kick-off at 7.45pm UK time, likely to be within an hour of a potential House of Commons vote on the roll-out of Universal Credit.

A Labour motion calling on the full implementation of Universal Credit to be paused, due to worries over the execution of changes to the benefits system, will be debated during an opposition day debate on Wednesday afternoon.


Opposition parties will look to force a vote on the motion, amid suggestions of a rebellion from Conservative MPs also concerned by the roll-out.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister met Tory MPs threatening to vote against the Government in a bid to avert a public showdown.

But the apparent decision by Conservative whips to allow Mr Ross's absence suggests they are relaxed about the Labour motion, or could order their MPs to abstain in order to avoid a potential revolt.

Image: The politician will run the line during Barcelona's game against Olympiacos

Labour's shadow Scotland minister Paul Sweeney attacked Mr Ross's "perverse sense of priorities".

"The rollout of Universal Credit has blighted lives across the country, forcing many to rely on food banks and crisis grants to get by," he said.

"Yet Mr Ross doesn't even have the decency to turn up to Parliament and explain why he supports putting people through such misery."

But the 34-year-old, who was elected to Parliament at June's General Election, was defended by his own party.

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "There will be many Scottish Conservative representatives in this debate.

"Douglas has held more than 50 surgeries since becoming an MP and has met personally with Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke to discuss local cases which have arisen from those.

"The people of Moray are right behind Douglas and his refereeing, as they showed decisively when they elected him as their MP just a few months ago."

Mr Douglas also regularly officiates at Scottish football matches, according to MPs' register of interests.

In September, the former member of the Scottish Parliament earned £1,436.35 from UEFA for serving as an assistant referee at the Europa League match between Slovenian side NK Domzale and French outfit Olympique de Marseille.