Scottish health secretary quits ahead of expenses inquiry

Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Michael Matheson has resigned as Scotland’s health secretary following a backlash over his parliamentary iPad bill of almost £11,000.

Mr Matheson racked up the charges while holidaying in Morocco over Christmas 2022.

He later conceded the fees were accumulated as a result of his teenage sons using the parliamentary device as a hotspot to watch football.

Opponents repeatedly called for Mr Matheson to resign when the bill first emerged in November last year, pointing to his claim to journalists that there had been no personal use of the device, before telling MSPs days later his sons had used the data.

At the time, First Minister Humza Yousaf – himself a former health secretary – gave Mr Matheson his backing.

But following his resignation, Mr Yousaf said it is right Mr Matheson steps aside to avoid the issue becoming a “distraction”.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is due to release the initial findings of its probe into the spending in due course.