Matheson vows to fight on after he is banned from Holyrood
FORMER health secretary Michael Matheson said the Holyrood committee which recommended a 27-day suspension for him was “politicised” and the sanction was “excessive”.
Matheson has been suspended from Holyrood for 27 days and will lose his salary for 54 days after racking up a near-£11,000 data roaming bill.
He was found to have breached the MSP code of conduct by attempting to use expenses and office costs to cover the bill for a parliamentary device.
Later announcing he would cover the costs himself, he revealed his children had used the device as a wifi hotspot to watch football during a holiday in Morocco.
The SNP MSP’S punishment was handed down by the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee at Holyrood yesterday following a long-running probe.
But speaking to journalists following First Minister’s Questions, he 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.”
Mr Matheson said it is now for parliament to decide on the next steps for the report, and said that he would “abide” by whatever decision it takes.
He said he hoped he would continue representing Falkirk West “for many years to come”.
Announcing the outcome of the probe, committee convener Martin Whitfield said the findings of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), which investigated Mr Matheson, showed the standards expected of MSPS “have not been met”.
“The unanimous view of the committee is that it is therefore appropriate to recommend sanctions for consideration by Parliament,” he said.
Committee members were unanimous, the convener said, in the decision to recommend a financial penalty, as well as the amount of salary that should be withheld.
But SNP MSPS Jackie Dunbar and Alasdair Allan did not agree with Tory members Annie Wells and Oliver Mundell that the suspension should be for 27 days, with the convener casting the deciding vote.
The decision will now go before MSPS for approval.
First Minister John Swinney has said the process has been “prejudiced” due to public comments made by members of the committee.
Mr Swinney pointed to comments made by Ms Wells last year, adding that he would not be supporting the recommendation made yesterday.
The First Minister also referred to Mr Matheson as a “friend and colleague” who has “made mistakes”.
He said: “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 added that if a constituent was facing disciplinary action at work and their employer made similar comments, he would “come down on that employer like a ton of bricks”.
At First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross condemned the First Minister’s description of the process which recommended Mr Matheson be banned for 27 days and sacrifice 54 days of salary as “prejudicial”.
“That is incredible and indefensible by the First Minister,” Mr Ross said of Mr Swinney’s backing of his MSP.
“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.”
I think it’s pretty clear that the process has become highly politicised