Michael Matheson refuses to quit as MSP as John Swinney condemns ‘prejudiced’ iPad charges probe

Former Scottish health secretary Michael Matheson has said his 27-day suspension was “politicised” and the sanction “excessive”, while SNP leader John Swinney said the process was “prejudiced” by opposition politicians

Michael Matheson has refused to quit as a MSP over the iPad scandal as he said the Holyrood committee that recommended a 27-day suspension for him – the longest in Holyrood’s history – was “politicised” and described the sanction as “excessive”.

It comes as First Minister John Swinney said the process involving the former health secretary had been “prejudiced” due to public comments made by members of the committee.

The remarks were made after Holyrood’s standards, procedures and public appointments committee published its verdict against Mr Matheson on Thursday morning, which also included a recommendation to strip him of his salary for 54 days. Both sanctions will be voted on by MSPs.

Former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Michael Matheson listens to First Minister John Swinney in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Matheson questioned the “fairness of the process”, having been investigated by the committee after attempting to cover a near-£11,000 data roaming bill incurred during a Moroccan holiday on expenses and office costs.

It was revealed for the first time, as part of the investigation by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), that Mr Matheson had been asked seven times by officials to provide assurances he was satisfied the data usage was entirely for parliamentary business.

Mr Matheson said: “I acknowledge the recommendations that the committee have made. I think it’s pretty clear though that the process has become highly politicised, which has compromised the process and the fairness of the process. I also think the sanctions they’ve imposed are excessive and they are unfair.”

The former minister said it was now for Parliament to decide on the next steps for the report. He said he would “abide” by whatever decision it takes, but hoped he would continue representing Falkirk West “for many years to come”.

In Mr Matheson’s written submission to the standards committee, published alongside its report, the former health secretary asked the committee to acknowledge the “significant impact on me and my family over the last five months, including the need for additional security measures having to be installed in our family home and in my constituency office”. He also asked members to “recognise my strong desire as a father to try and avoid my children from being drawn into a matter that was already highly politicised and receiving significant media attention”.

The report reads: “Mr Matheson was made aware of over £7k of charges accruing to his iPad on 9th January and he was provided with the final, checked itemised bill on 7th February.

"Over a period of 4 months [9 January-16 May 2023] this shows that IT and Allowances Office staff asked Mr Matheson in calls, meetings and via email to provide assurances that he was satisfied that the data usage was entirely for parliamentary business purposes.”

The report documents seven occasions when Mr Matheson was asked to confirm the data usage was for parliamentary business.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) on Thursday, Mr Swinney pointed to comments made by Tory MSP Annie Wells – a member of the standards committee – last year, adding he would not be supporting the recommendation made. The First Minister also referred to Mr Matheson as a “friend and colleague” who had “made mistakes”.

“Annie Wells said that Michael Matheson’s, and I quote, ‘desperate efforts to justify his outrageous expenses claim have been riddled with lies, cover-ups and the need for us all to suspend our disbelief',” the First Minister said.

Mr Swinney said if a constituent was facing disciplinary action at work and their employer made similar comments, he would “come down on that employer like a tonne of bricks”.

But Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said: “That is incredible and indefensible by the First Minister. He told us when asking for our support to make him First Minister, he would be First Minister for all of Scotland. What Scotland is seeing is he’s a First Minister that backs his pals.”

Mr Ross said his party would seek to force Mr Matheson to resign in a vote next week as he accused the former health secretary of “deceit and abuse of trust” over the scandal.

Speaking after FMQs, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said Mr Matheson had “misled the media, the public and this Parliament”, while Mr Swinney “has demeaned himself and the office of First Minister”.

“Two weeks in and the pretence of a new kind of government has been shattered – it is still party first and country second with the SNP,” Mr Sarwar said.

“This scandal is clearly deeper than Michael Matheson’s failure. It is about the rotten attitude of this SNP Government to scrutiny and the failure of anyone to take responsibility.

“Even now that what Michael Matheson has done is clear, the SNP is standing behind him. Michael Matheson should do the right thing, stand down and allow a by-election to take place on the same day as the general election, and John Swinney should have made that clear today.”

The total of 54 days' salary for an MSP, if dividing the annual salary by 365 days, is more than £10,000. If the Scottish Parliament is docking Mr Matheson’s pay based on working days, the sum will be far larger.

Mr Swinney’s defence prompted the Scottish Tories to demand the party’s previously proposed recall Bill be introduced at Holyrood.

Under existing Scottish Parliament legislation, there is no recall petition triggered if a MSP is suspended for ten or more sitting days, in contrast to the process that exists at Westminster.

Former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier had been forced to resign last year on the back of a recall petition after being suspended for ten days for breaching coronavirus rules, leading to a by-election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West that Labour ultimately won.

Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson said: “John Swinney’s shameless and partisan attempt to defend the indefensible underlines the need for my recall Bill to be introduced at Holyrood.

“The punishment recommended by the standards committee for Michael Matheson would allow for a by-election to be triggered by his constituents if he was an MP at Westminster. That option is not available in the Scottish Parliament, which means that, even if the Scottish Conservative motion calling for him to resign is passed, there is nothing to stop Michael Matheson ignoring it and brazenly clinging on.

“That is unacceptable, which is why my recall Bill is so desperately needed.”