WATCH: Fergus Ewing slams 'economic masochism' of Green party 'wine bar revolutionaries' opposing new North Sea gas fields

Fergus Ewing has renewed his attack on the Scottish Greens labelling them – to widespread cheers in Holyrood – “wine bar revolutionaries” intent on “economic masochism” over their wish to halt exploration of more gas fields in the North Sea.

Arguing that Scotland will need gas for many decades to come and that imported sources, particularly from the US, are produced with more than four times the carbon commissions of Rosebank oil and gas field.

He said: “Does the First Minister agree with me that sacrificing development of our gas resource would not only decimate tens of thousands of highly skilled well-paid jobs in a form of economic masochism advocated by the wine bar revolutionaries in the Green Party but also make climate change worse, actually worse, not better?”

At this point he was “reminded” by Deputy Presiding Officer Annabelle Ewing – who happens to be his younger sister – to “treat each other with courtesy and respect” while in the chamber.

Earlier in the week, Mr Ewing hit out at the Green over the deposit return scheme which he said was a “Green Poll Tax” on the poorest in society, later the same day First Minister Yousaf delayed the rollout of the controversial plans until next year.

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