Martin Docherty-Hughes MP says he walked out of the House of Commons on Wednesday to “stand up for Scotland and the people of West Dunbartonshire”.

The local politician was among a mass walkout from the SNP party at Westminster after Ian Blackford MP had asked for the Commons to sit in private.

Mr Blackford was then banned from the day’s proceedings by John Bercow for refusing to sit down after being ordered to by the speaker, prompting his colleagues to leave in support.

Mr Docherty-Hughes described events in the House of Commons this week as ‘scandalous’ and said it was a democratic outrage for the people of Scotland to be ignored on Brexit.

He said: “The Tories have shown utter contempt for the democratic will of the Scottish Parliament and as ever it’s been left to the SNP to fight Scotland’s corner.

“The events of the past week at Westminster have been nothing less than scandalous.

“Scotland – and my constituents - have been silenced on Brexit, leaving us with no choice but to walk out of the House of Commons in protest at this democratic outrage.

“The Prime Minister gave a commitment that she would treat Scotland as part of a ‘union of equals’. Yet she has pressed on with this unprecedented attack on devolution in direct opposition to Scotland’s elected Parliament.

"The Tories haven't won a democratic mandate from the people of Scotland for over 60 years, but they think they can do what they want to us and get away with it.

"The actions of the UK government are putting jobs and livelihoods at risk – I will always stand up for Scotland and the people of West Dunbartonshire in Parliament.”

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the SNP was about to be granted a debate on the devolution aspects of the EU Withdrawal Bill.

He added: "Disappointed, if not surprised, that if they really felt so strongly about it, they chose a stunt over holding the Government to account."

At the end of the stormy hour-long session, Mr Bercow pointed out that Labour MP Clive Lewis's baby, who was in the chamber throughout, had been better behaved.

He said: "For all the turbulence and discord of today's proceedings the little baby who has been observing them has been a model of impeccable behaviour from start to finish."

The comments were met by cheers and claps from across the chamber.

Scottish Conservative MP Kirstene Hair said: "This rehearsed move just demonstrated that the SNP care more about headlines than actually achieving anything for Scotland.

"They are the masters of manufactured grievance and the people of Scotland are sick of it.

"The SNP have played games with the constitution, played games with Brexit and now are playing games with Parliament. It is a joke."