Kenny MacAskill has been criticised by his backbenchers for claiming opponents of plans to abolish corroboration were part of a Unionist conspiracy.
Christine Grahame, Nationalist convener of Holyrood’s justice committee, said the Justice Secretary’s speech had been “beyond the pale” and “inappropriate”.
The move came after an ill-tempered debate in Holyrood last Thursday where the controversial plan to scrap the need for at least two pieces of evidence for a criminal conviction was narrowly voted through to its next stage.
Mr MacAskill accused opponents of his reforms of “selling out the victims of crime” and drew parallels with the independence debate, claiming other parties were following the Tory lead.
But a number of SNP MSPs have said privately they think his tone was all wrong and Miss Grahame is the first to come out with some rare public criticism of the SNP hierarchy.
Opposition parties last night called on the Justice Secretary to withdraw his remarks.
Asked about Mr MacAskill’s speech, Miss Grahame is reported to have said: “I think it was inappropriate. For some it may be party political but for the vast majority it isn’t it’s an issue of principle.
“When you a make an argument personal like that you diminish your argument. It was very seriously misjudged. I don’t want people to think everyone sitting on the SNP benches was happy with that, because they certainly weren’t.”
Discussing Mr MacAskill’s claim that his opponents were betraying victims of crime, Miss Grahame, a qualified solicitor, said: “I think that was not worthy of him.
“I’m sure everybody in the chamber is on the side of making things better for victims and trying to ensure there are secure convictions.
“It really is not appropriate to attack and say: ‘You are not on the side of the victims’. That is not the way to portray it.”
The SNP MSP rejected any suggestion of a Unionist plot, adding: “It’s not just him, I’ve seen other people perhaps going beyond the pale, but they should learn from it and not repeat it, and I do hope he has.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat Justice Spokeswoman Alison McInnes MSP said: “Kenny MacAskill might have won the vote on corroboration but even his own SNP colleagues think he lost the plot during his speech.
“The abolition of corroboration is opposed by people across the legal profession. Are they all part of a Unionist conspiracy, too?
“Kenny MacAskill’s speech was badly judged and did him no credit whatsoever.
“I hope the Justice Secretary will listen to Christine Grahame, reflect on his behaviour and withdraw the shameful attacks he made during his speech at the first opportunity.”
The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill was approved in principle by 64 votes to five, with 57 abstentions, including Miss Grahame.
A group chaired by Lord Bonomy will now consider what safeguards are needed to minimise the impact of removing corroboration.
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