Ex-SNP minister Michael Matheson is SUSPENDED from the Scottish Parliament for 27 days and docked 54 days' pay after trying to bill the taxpayer for £11,000 of iPad data charges run up by his children
A former SNBP frontbencher has been suspended from the Scottish Parliament for 27 days and docked thousands of pounds from his salary after trying to use his expenses to pay off an iPad data bill run up by his children
Former health secretary Michael Matheson's suspension is the longest ever handed out to a politician at Holyrood.
He will also lose 54 days' pay after a vote by MSPs this afternoon that passed despite his party refusing to back the punishment.
But he said he would not additionally resign his seat despite calls from opposition parties.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross told Holyrood: 'Resigning from the Cabinet, resigning from the Scottish Government is not enough.
'Michael Matheson should do the right thing and resign from the Parliament.'
First Minister John Swinney had criticised the recommendation made by a cross-bench committee over comments made by one of its Tory members.
Former health secretary Michael Matheson's suspension is the longest ever handed out to a politician at Holyrood.
First Minister John Swinney had criticised the recommendation made by a cross-bench committee over comments made by one of its Tory members.
In a statement released in the minutes after 64 MSPs voted for him to be barred for 27 sitting days, Mr Matheson said: 'I apologise and regret that this situation occurred. I acknowledge and accept the decision of Parliament.
'I also note that Parliament has called for the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body to carry out an independent review of the Parliament's complaints process to restore integrity and confidence in the Parliament and its procedures, which I hope will be progressed.
'I look forward to continuing to represent the people of Falkirk West, as I have done for many years.'
Mr Swinney said he believes comments made by a member of the committee, Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells, prejudged the case.
He previously said he would not support the sanction, but an SNP motion at Parliament now backs it.
Mr Swinney told Sky News on a General Election campaign visit on today : 'I never at any stage suggested that I would bring forward an alternative proposition. What I expressed was concerns about a process which I think brings Parliament into disrepute.
'In no other walk of life would it be tolerable for somebody on a disciplinary panel to prejudge a case.
'It just wouldn't be allowed in any other walk of life, and I think the Scottish Parliament has got itself into a really tricky situation by doing that.
'Parliament will sort these things out and it will decide its position and obviously I'll accept what Parliament decides.'
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused the SNP of 'putting their party interests before the good of the country'.
He added: 'John Swinney and the SNP are using the Boris Johnson and Conservative Party playbook - putting personal relationships before the integrity of Parliament.
'John Swinney is trying to defend the indefensible by backing Matheson, who was found to have attempted to misuse £11,000 of public money.
'It's completely and utterly unacceptable.'
He said Labour is 'dedicated to cleaning up politics', including by introducing a Bill that would include a recall process to sack suspended MSPs.
