A TORY MSP has been criticised after he seemingly suggested an increase in car crashes in Scotland was down to harsher drink driving limits.

During First Minister’s Questions, Maurice Corry said road traffic accidents in Scotland had increased by 7% “since the introduction of the Scottish Government lower alcohol level limits for drivers in 2014".

The West Scotland list MSP then asked Nicola Sturgeon if this was “a direct result of yet another failed SNP government policy”.

There were audible gasps at the Tory's question. One MSP could be heard shouting at Corry, accusing him of being irresponsible.

A visibly stunned Sturgeon replied: “Well, as I recall,when this Parliament decided to lower the drink drive limit it did so unanimously, which obviously must mean that the Conservatives supported that, and credit to the Conservatives for supporting, because I don’t think it can reasonably be said that road traffic accidents are increasing because we’ve cut the drink driving limit.

“That makes no sense.”

The First Minister added: “In all seriousness right now, we are in the festive season, at this time of year, we should do that at every time of year, but particularly at this time of year, the message that should come unanimously from all of us to everybody across Scotland is do not drink and drive.

“And I find it deeply regrettable that today as we go into the Christmas period, we have a Conservative MSP somehow seeming to suggest that lowering the drink driving limit was bad thing to do.“

The Scottish Government cut the legal blood alcohol limit for motorists from 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood to 50 in December 2014.

Corry’s question was based a study by Jim Lewsey, professor of medical statistics at Glasgow University’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing, published on Thursday morning.

The academic concluded that the lower limit “did not have the intended effect of reducing RTAs” but said the “most plausible” explanation for this was insufficient police enforcement or media campaigning.

Prof Lewsey said: “Our findings are surprising, given what we know from previous international evidence, which generally supports a reduction of RTAs following the same lowering of a blood alcohol concentration limit.

“However, the results of our high quality study are unequivocal – they indicate that the reduction in Scotland’s drink-drive limit in December 2014 simply did not have the intended effect of reducing RTAs.”

It’s not the first time Corry’s made the press for all the wrong reasons.

Last year, it was revealed that he had hired convicted drink-driver and boat thief John McMurtrie as parliamentary assistant.

The Daily Record revealed that McMurtrie, of Kilcreggan, Helensburgh, was given a 15-month suspended sentence in January last year for stealing five dinghies while running a yachting business in Suffolk.

He was also convicted of stealing £2000 from another customer at his yachting firm.

As well as the suspended sentence, he was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work.

He also had to pay £14,300 compensation to the boat owners.