Matheson quits as Scottish health secretary ahead of iPad bill inquiry findings

A £11,000 bill racked up on his parliamentary device by his sons was initially paid by the public purse.

Michael Matheson has quit as health secretary (Jane Barlow/PA) (PA Wire)

Michael Matheson has resigned as Scotland’s health secretary following 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.

Ahead of those findings, Mr Matheson announced his resignation on Thursday morning.

He said: “I am conscious that this process will conclude in the coming weeks.

“I have still not received the findings of their review, however, it is in the best interest of myself and the Government for me to now step down to ensure this does not become a distraction to taking forward the Government’s agenda.”

He had initially agreed to claim £3,000 of the roaming charges bill as part of his expenses allowance, while his office provision paid the rest – meaning the public purse covered the bill in full.

But after increasing pressure on the issue, Mr Matheson said he would pay the full cost himself.

Mr Matheson added he had been “enormously grateful” for the support Mr Yousaf gave to him and his family over the last year.

He has held various roles in the Scottish cabinet for almost 13 years, including the justice, net zero and public health portfolios.

In response to Mr Matheson’s resignation, Mr Yousaf told him: “It is right that, having requested that the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body review your data roaming charges from last year, that you fully engage with that process as it comes to its conclusion.

“I agree that it is therefore best for you to now step down to ensure you are able to give the parliamentary process the attention it deserves without it becoming a distraction to taking forward the Government’s agenda.”

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Dame Jackie Baillie said: “While I welcome the news that Michael Matheson has finally gone, the fact is the First Minister has big questions to answer over his lack of judgment.

“While our NHS is in crisis, Humza Yousaf has shown his weakness by putting the SNP before our NHS.

“Now more than ever we need a health minister focused on the crisis at hand.

“It’s clear that the First Minister has no plan to save our NHS and that shuffling the SNP deckchairs will make no difference – it’s time for change.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said patients “deserve better than an SNP minister who has lost their trust and could no longer focus on the day job”.

He added: “From Humza Yousaf to Michael Matheson, our NHS has known only crisis, soaring vacancies and even longer waits.”