LONDON (Reuters) - While his parliamentary colleagues debate a new welfare payment system in Westminster, MP Douglas Ross will be in Barcelona's dazzling Nou Camp stadium, focusing on whether Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have strayed offside. Ross, who was elected for the governing Conservatives in June's parliamentary election, faced criticism on Wednesday when it emerged he would miss the debate and vote to be an assistant referee in Barca's Champions League clash with Olympiakos. Scottish National Party (SNP) MP John McNally raised the issue in parliament by waving a red card and asking Prime Minister Theresa May why Ross, who represents a Scottish constituency, had been granted permission to miss the debate. The Prime Minister defended Ross, who also missed a debate last year to officiate Real Madrid's game against Sporting Lisbon. "The Scottish Conservative members are doing more for the interests of Scotland in this parliament than the Scottish Nationalists have ever done," May said.

Source: The Star October 18, 2017 15:56 UTC