WATCH: Moray's MP puts Champions League before Universal Credit vote

As MPs vote on whether to stop the roll-out of controversial changes to welfare benefits, Moray’s MP will be in Barcelona refereeing a Champions League match.

Universal Credit has already been trialed in Inverness, but it’s claimed combining six-benefits (including housing benefit and child tax credits) has already driven claimants into debt, left them hungry, and caused mental distress.

Douglas Ross' decision to absent from the debate has drawn criticism from his constituency's local foodbank, which Tweeted earlier.

"To be pocketing a salary of £75k a year paid for by the taxpayer and to then not show up for work so you can earn more money from your second job is not only arrogant, but extremely insensitive" - RICHARD LOCHHEAD, MORAY MSP

In November while an MSP, Ross missed a meeting at the Scottish Parliament when running-the-line as assistant referee during Sporting Lisbon's 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid.

He also failed to attend another justice committee meeting while linesman in Dynamo Kiev's 2-1 defeat to Napoli on the 13th of September 2016.

Also that month, while on a five-day refereeing course in Switzerland, he missed a vote at Holyrood on local government taxation reforms.

Following those incidents in 2016 Ross said that he would "try and balance things as best he can" but also countered by saying: "what I do hope is that from doing refereeing to a high standard in the Champions League, is that people from the Highlands and Moray will say that there's a guy from our area officiating guys like Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, and hopefully if it encourages people to take up refereeing or physical activity, then any criticism I've received for this will have been worth it."

WATCH: This is what Douglas Ross told our reporter Bryan Rutherford before he was elected as Moray's MP...

Moray's SNP MSP Richard Lochhead told MFR News: "There are people in Moray whose lives are falling apart as a result of Universal Credit and they deserve an MP who will turn up to Parliament for this crucial debate and vote.

"To be pocketing a salary of £75k a year paid for by the taxpayer and to then not show up for work so you can earn more money from your second job is not only arrogant, but extremely insensitive given that people applying for universal credit in Moray face being left without an income for weeks on end.

"And indeed, if folk receiving universal credit don’t turn up to an appointment with the DWP they are sanctioned, yet our Tory MP continues to fail to show up to work without consequence.

"In the run up to the General Election Douglas Ross promised that he would cut out the midweek refereeing as he recognised his constituents were unhappy with him missing Parliament. It hasn’t taken him long to go back on his promise and this serial offending smacks of complete arrogance.

"Our MP is forever making national headlines for all the wrong reasons and is an embarrassment to Moray.

"Quite simply he should apologise to people in Moray for prioritising his own financial and personal interests ahead of standing up for vulnerable constituents at a time when they need him the most."

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