Matheson vows to remain an MSP as Holyrood backs suspension over iPad scandal
Michael Matheson has insisted he will remain an MSP despite Holyrood voting to impose tough sanctions on him after he racked up a data roaming bill of almost ÂŁ11,000 on his Parliament-issued iPad.
MSPs voted by 64 to zero to impose the punishment, which will see Mr Matheson suspended from Holyrood for 27 days and lose his MSP salary for twice that period â the heaviest sanction ever given out in the Scottish Parliament â but the 63 SNP MSPs abstained.
An SNP amendment highlighting the partyâs concerns that the committee which recommended the sanctions had been prejudiced, âthereby bringing the Parliament into disreputeâ, was also passed.
The amended motion criticised Conservative MSP Annie Wells for her âpublic pronouncementsâ on Mr Matheson ahead of his actions being considered by Holyroodâs Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee â of which she is a member.
It went on to state this âruns the risk of the committee report being open to bias and prejudice and the complaint being prejudgedâ, as it said there should be an independent review of the Parliamentâs complaints processes
In scenes Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said were âbizarre in the extremeâ, the SNP voted for the amendment, but then abstained when it came to voting on the amended motion.
Later on Wednesday, the Scottish Tories failed to pass a motion calling for Mr Matheson to resign.
MSPs voted by 68 votes to 55 against the move, instead passing a Green amendment which removed the majority of the Tory motion and called for reform of the process for considering sanctions for MSPs as well as another from Scottish Labour calling for a process to recall MSPs.
Mr Ross said that while Mr Matheson is facing suspension and a loss of wages, âany other Scot would have been handed their P45 straight awayâ.
He said: âIf someone is found to have falsely claimed ÂŁ11,000 from their employer, in this case the taxpayer, then they lied about it as part of a cover-up, they would have been sacked.â
He insisted the former health secretaryâs actions were not a âharmless mistakeâ, saying he had made a âdeliberate and shameless attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of this Parliament and the publicâ.
The row was originally sparked when Mr Matheson admitted his teenage sons used his iPad as a hotspot so they could watch football while on a family holiday in Morocco.
The then-minister had initially insisted the device had only been used for work purposes and he attempted to get the public purse to pick up the costs.
He later confessed to his childrenâs involvement, and paid the money back to the Scottish Parliament.
While he later quit as health secretary, he remains the MSP for Falkirk West.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Matheson said: âI apologise and regret that this situation occurred. I acknowledge and accept the decision of Parliament.
âI also note that Parliament has called for the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body to carry out an independent review of the Parliamentâs complaints process to restore integrity and confidence in the Parliament and its procedures, which I hope will be progressed.
âI look forward to continuing to represent the people of Falkirk West, as I have done for many years.â
Tory leader Mr Ross criticised Scottish First Minister John Swinney, saying he had to tried to âderail and undermine due processâ with his criticism of Ms Wellsâs behaviour.
Mr Ross insisted: âThe actions of the First Minister towards my colleague Annie Wells would make Donald Trump blush.
âIt is disgusting and disgraceful behaviour that demeans the office of First Minister, because he has targeted members of an independent committee in this Parliament and is attempting to undermine due process with his bully boy tactics.â
Mr Swinney later told journalists he does not think Mr Matheson should resign as an MSP.
He said: âHe made a mistake and has been given a punishment by Parliament which I accept unreservedly.
âMichael should accept that punishment and continue to serve the people that sent him here.
âParliament has accepted this is appropriate and I accept what Parliament has said.â
The First Minister also signalled support for a system that would give the public the chance to recall their MSPs, adding: âI donât think the arrangements here are currently adequate.â