John Swinney dodges question whether he is 'impartial' over Michael Matheson iPad sanction
John Swinney, who is now celebrating three weeks as first minister, was speaking to Sky News while on the general election campaign trail in Dumfries on Monday.
Monday 27 May 2024 15:28, UK
Scotland's first minister has dodged answering a question whether he himself is "impartial" amid an ongoing row over a proposed sanction against his "friend and colleague" Michael Matheson.
Former health secretary Mr Matheson is facing a 27-sitting day suspension from Holyrood and could lose his salary for 54 days over his near £11,000 iPad data roaming bill.
The Falkirk West MSP initially billed taxpayers after claiming he had racked up the invoice undertaking constituency work on his parliamentary iPad during a family holiday to Morocco around Christmas 2022.
However, he U-turned before it later emerged his teenage sons had used the iPad as a hotspot to watch football while on holiday.
Mr Matheson, who claimed he was unaware of the truth until the story hit the headlines, was last week sanctioned by the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee for breaching the MSP code of conduct.
The decision is expected to go before MSPs this week, with Mr Matheson branding the sanction "excessive" and "unfair".
John Swinney previously announced he intends to challenge the sanction ordered, claiming the process had been "prejudiced" due to critical comments made by committee member Annie Wells.
Before the sanction was imposed, Tory MSP Ms Wells described Mr Matheson's defence as "riddled with lies, cover-ups and the need for us all to suspend our disbelief".
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said Mr Swinney was "defending the indefensible", while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said "he has demeaned himself and the office of first minister".
Asked whether Mr Matheson should be punished in some form, Mr Swinney told Sky News: "I made clear last week that Michael Matheson had made mistakes and there needs to be a sanction approved by parliament.
"The only point I was making last week is that parliament's got to go through its processes fairly and with the interests of natural justice at its heart, and I don't think that's been the case in the way parliament has handled this."
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Given Mr Swinney has described Mr Matheson as "a friend and a colleague", the first minister was asked whether he himself could be "impartial" or indeed whether there could be some "prejudice" due to their relationship.
Mr Swinney replied: "I'm setting that out simply to be open and transparent so that people can see where I'm coming from.
"So, of course, Michael is a friend of mine and a colleague of mine.
"The issue I'm raising is the fact that one of the members of the committee was making public comments about Michael Matheson's case, which were prejudicial to the case, and then sat in judgement about that.
"That's wrong and parliament shouldn't allow that. That's the issue I'm raising. I'm not raising any other issue about the process."
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Mr Swinney, who is now celebrating three weeks as first minister, was speaking to Sky News while on the general election campaign trail on Monday.
The SNP currently hold 43 seats at Westminster - with the party hoping to unite the country against austerity, Brexit and the cost of living crisis.
The first minister was in Dumfries, part of Tory Alister Jack's Dumfries and Galloway seat.
SNP leader Mr Swinney said: "The SNP is the challenger in every single one of the Conservative-held seats in Scotland.
"And if people want to get rid of the Conservatives, then they've got to vote SNP to make sure that's what happens."
Scottish Tory leader Mr Ross, who was out campaigning in Mr Matheson's constituency, said Mr Swinney had "staked his reputation" on defending Mr Matheson and would "rather support his good friend than defend the integrity of parliament".
Mr Ross added: "Michael Matheson lied to parliament, he lied to the presiding officer and, most importantly, he lied to the public."
The Scottish Tories plan to force a vote in Holyrood on Wednesday, calling on Mr Matheson to resign.
It is unlikely to pass due to a lack of support from the Scottish Greens, with party MSP Ross Greer branding it "cynical".