Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson breached code of conduct over iPad bill

The Falkirk West MSP breached the code over a £11,000 bill racked up on his parliamentary iPad.

Mr Matheson stepped down from his cabinet post last month, citing the ongoing investigation into his conduct as the reason.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) published its findings last week – but said its full report will be released after consideration by Holyrood’s Standards Committee.

The iPad charges were initially paid out of the public purse after being incurred during a family trip to Morocco at the end of 2022.

When details of the bill were first made public, he said the device had only been used for parliamentary work.

But he later in an emotional speech in parliament, he admitted that his sons had used the iPad as a data hotspot so they could watch football.

Mr Matheson has since paid back the bill in full and apologised.

However, appearing on the BBC’s Sunday Show, Humza Yousaf said: “Michael made a mistake, there’s no ifs, buts or maybes about that – and decent people can make mistakes.

“He’s paid a price for that, literally, he’s paid back all of the money and he’ll obviously now be referred to the Parliament Standards Committee to make a judgment, and I won’t interfere in that process.”

Opposition politicians have called for Mr Matheson to stand down as an MSP as a result of the SPCB report. But when asked if the former minister should quit, the First Minister was adamant: “No, I don’t think that’s the case.

“He’s a decent person that made a mistake.

“There are MSPs that have made mistakes and they’ve had to face the consequences of those mistakes.

“I’ve not heard Michael say anything other than he’ll accept what those consequences are, and I’m sure he’ll accept whatever the parliamentary committee decides and deliberates on.”

One of those calling for Mr Matheson to resign is Falkirk Conservative councillor James Bundy, who said: “There are clear rules for MSPs and Michael Matheson broke them.

"Months of covering-up and changing the story have been torn apart. Michael Matheson broke the rules and lied about it.

"It's time for this whole sorry affair to come to an end through Michael Matheson's resignation."