Reid: under pressure

The Scottish parliament's presiding officer is coming under pressure to block the Holyrood visit of a far-right Belgian MP.

MSPs have expressed anger at the proposed visit of Dominiek Lootens-Stael, a leading member of a Belgian party likened to the BNP.

The Vlaams Blok politician is due to visit the Holyrood parliament during a four-day visit by parliamentarians next month.

George Reid, the presiding officer, is said to have approved the visit against the advice of the Foreign Office.

A similar visit to the Welsh assembly was blocked by the Cardiff Bay presiding officer Dafydd Elis Thomas last week.

The SNP's Shona Robison described the proposed visit as "abhorrent".

Meanwhile Scottish executive member Patricia Fergusson said Reid should think again.

The minister for parliamentary business said the visit would send out the wrong message.