Scottish health secretary resigns over iPad expenses controversy

Scotland’s health secretary, Michael Matheson, has left ahead of a report into an £11,000 invoice that was racked up on his parliamentary iPad.

Scottish Health Secretary, Mr. Matheson, announced his resignation amid controversy over iPad expenses incurred during a family trip to Morocco in late 2022. 

Initially, Matheson claimed the iPad was solely used for parliamentary work, but later admitted that his sons utilized it as a data hotspot to watch football. He repaid the bill and apologized for the incident.

Resignation Amid Investigation

Matheson’s resignation precedes the publication of an investigation by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body into the expenses issue. 

While he has not yet received the report, Matheson decided to step down to prevent the matter from distracting the government’s agenda.

First Minister’s Response

First Minister Humza Yousaf accepted Matheson’s resignation with regret, emphasizing the importance of allowing the parliamentary process to proceed without disruption. 

Initially defending Matheson’s expense claim as legitimate, Yousaf later supported Matheson’s decision to step down amid the ongoing scrutiny.

Conclusion

Matheson’s resignation comes after more than 12 years of service in government, highlighting the impact of the expenses controversy on political accountability and the government’s priorities.