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A TORY MSP missed a key vote in parliament to take part in World Cup referee training.

Douglas Ross, who expects to earn up to £40,000 from his footballing job, went on the SFA trip to Switzerland instead of doing what he’s elected to do.

Ross is also a councillor in Moray and already has to split his responsibilities with Holyrood where the Tories are the largest opposition group.

While in Switzerland, Ross was unable to take part in a Justice Committee meeting or a parliamentary vote criticising SNP local taxation policy.

(Image: PA)

The SNP Government would have been defeated had he turned up to vote on Thursday.

The result was already controversial because it ended in a tie when Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale failed to record her vote.

Last night the SNP said it undermines Tory leader Ruth Davidson’s boast that her part will be a “strong opposition”.

An SNP spokesman said: “Three-jobs Ross appears to value his £40,000-a year weekend job more than his responsibilities as a parliamentarian.

“This is a complete own-goal for Ruth Davidson who’ll be tempted to give Douglass Ross the hairdryer treatment when he comes back from his Swiss misadventure.

“Ruth Davidson promised to be a strong opposition but with this batch of part-time MSPs it increasingly looks as if she’s called up the reserves.”

A Tory spokesman: “Douglas was at an SFA training event and unable to get back in time. He’s apologised to the chief whip. This was a one-off problem in relation to World Cup preparations.”