Live blog: First Minister's Questions - Yousaf expected to be grilled on Michael Matheson expenses scandal
First Minister Humza Yousaf is set to take questions from opposition parties from noon onwards - join us to keep updated with the cut and thrust of the debates.
Live blog: FMQs
Good morning!
Good morning from an unusually sunny Edinburgh, where the Scotsman's politics team is prepping to bring you live updates of today's FMQS.
We're due to start at noon, as always.
Any tips or observations: [email protected]
Here's what to expect...
The Scotsman's deputy political editor, Conor Matchett, says we're in for more on the Michael Matheson scandal:
Conor MatchettAnother week and another FMQs, and it is likely to be a familiar afternoon.
We are expecting the ongoing Michael Matheson scandal to be raised by the Scottish Tories, and the major news of the Grangemouth oil refinery's closure is almost guaranteed to get a mention.
Here's the latest on Matheson:
Important info for people with hearing loss
Some information for people who are deaf or hard of hearing:
Breaking: Michael Matheson to face investigation
Michael Matheson is to be investigated over an £11,000 data roaming bill racked up on his Holyrood-issued iPad.
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) confirmed it will launch a probe and will seek to conclude this “promptly”.
More here:
Douglas Ross is up first...
The leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Douglas Ross, starts by welcoming the news that an investigation has been launched in Michael Matheson's £11,000 iPad data bill.
However, he says Mr Matheson needs to appear before the Scottish Parliament and explain why he initially said the bill was related to parliamentary business while he was on holiday.
It later transpired his sons had watched a football match on the device.
Humza Yousaf says Mr Matheson answered in "good faith" when asked why the bill was so high, he then corrected his "honest mistake" when he realised his children had run up the bill.
Yousaf launches a smart defence
The First Minister read out quotes from Matheson, apologising for his mistake to STV.
However, he then revealed he was actually reading from Douglas Ross' own apology when he was found to have incorrectly declared his income to the parliament.
Here's that story from two years ago:
Changing the tune
Yousaf now trying to change the subject to yesterday's UK Government budget announcement, saying it has damaged Scotland's NHS.
Ross quickly returns to the Matheson scandal, asking "if ministers need to be honest, why is he still in a job?".
Yousaf wonders aloud "how the party of Boris Johnson can lecture anyone on public standards" and said as there is now an investigation there should not be "a running commentary" on the case.
Anas Sarwar up now
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is now on his feet. Asks Yousaf whether the Scottish Government has a policy of "not telling the truth" - he's not allowed to outright call the government liars, as per parliamentary rules.
Sarwar says in the short time Yousaf has been First Minister, the record of parliament has had to be corrected three times. Firstly over Covid whatsapp messages, then over renewable energy claims.
He accuses Yousaf of ignoring statistics to fit his arguments, and asks if it is any wonder why he won't sack Matheson.
In case you're wondering...
The Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer has announced she will be away for a few weeks due to planned surgery - hence why she is not chairing today's session
Alison Johnstone said she would return soon and thanked NHS staff.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, she said: “Due to planned surgery, I’ll be away from the Parliament for a few weeks. Looking forward to being back at Holyrood soon.
“Thanks to the caring and professional NHS staff.”
May explain why MSPs aren't exactly on their best behaviour today - lots of shouting from the backbenches.
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