SNP minister apologises for leaked WhatsApp messages criticising colleagues

Elena Whitham said her comments were ‘not acceptable’

An SNP minister has apologised after her derogatory comments about colleagues in the Scottish Government were leaked to a newspaper.

Elena Whitham sent WhatsApp messages calling Deputy First Minister Shona Robison a “cold fish” and “painful to listen to”, and mocked Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson’s ego. She also criticised her party’s handling of harassment claims against Glasgow MP Patrick Grady.

Elsewhere, Ms Whitham dismissed the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations as “royalist b*****ks”.

Elena Whitham

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: “What these leaks go to show is that the SNP is in disarray – with a Scottish Government minister slagging off colleagues right, left and centre. The fact is that this is a party out of ideas, out of control and out of time.”

Ms Whitham was appointed minister for drugs and alcohol policy in March 2023, when Humza Yousaf took over as First Minister. Her WhatsApp messages, which were leaked to the Daily Record, show that in 2021, during a statement by Ms Robison in Holyrood, she wrote: “Shona needing to find her stride here. She is struggling. It is a great statement and we are doing so much amazing work but she isn’t selling it as well as she could.” She added: “She is a bit of a cold fish.”

The MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley later said Ms Robison was “like an automaton”. During another debate weeks later, she wrote: “Gosh….I find Shona R painful to listen to.”

When Mr Robertson was promoted to the Cabinet in May 2021, Ms Whitham wrote: “Angus in Cabinet [rolling eyes emoji] the ego has landed.”

And following news of a leaked recording showing senior SNP figures at Westminster had shown support for Mr Grady, she wrote: “Wtf. Who is recording group meetings?! And why are we supporting Grady?? Honestly.”

Meanwhile, at the beginning of a Holyrood debate to pay tribute to the Queen during the Platinum Jubilee, she wrote: “Give me strength to get through this royalist b*****ks.” Elsewhere, the minister branded Tory MSP Brian Whittle a “p***k”.

Ms Whitham told the Record: "These comments were not acceptable and I apologise sincerely."

Ms Baillie said: “Ms Whitham is right to question why her party closed ranks around the disgraced Patrick Grady when he was accused of sexual misconduct. It’s clear for all to see that Ms Whitham does not hold the Deputy First Minister in high regard and views Angus Robertson as an egotist.

“The wheels have come off the SNP bus and Humza Yousaf is completely out of his depth. The people of Scotland need a government focussed on their priorities – the NHS, tackling the cost of living crisis and growing the economy.”

Scottish Conservative Chairman Craig Hoy said: “These damning leaked messages sum up the chaos that is now engulfing the SNP. They are fighting like Nats in a sack, with another SNP representative happy to undermine their ministerial colleagues.

“The feuds among the SNP are becoming increasingly bitter and the party looks deeply divided. Humza Yousaf clearly doesn’t have the leadership authority to crack down on these disputes, otherwise these eye-opening messages would never have seen the light of day.”

An SNP spokesperson said: "We do not comment on leaked messages, however we remind all of our parliamentarians of the courtesy and respect they should show each other."