It is an absurd story that shakes Scottish political life. It all started in 2022 when Scottish MP and former minister, Michael Matheson, spent £11,000 (about €12,800) on data roaming charges on his iPad professionally, while he was on a family vacation in Morocco.
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The iPad causes a political storm
First, the latter explains the usage Apple tablet only for work related to his constituency. He then goes back on his statement and admits: his sons used the device and its connection to watch a football match between Glasgow Rangers and Celtic Glasgow.
Michael Matheson may have returned the sum in question, but the controversy continues. A parliamentary committee recently ruled in favor of banning him from sitting in parliament for 27 days, as well as suspending his pay for 54 days, roughly equivalent to the £11,000 spent during this trip.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who belongs to the same political party, the Scottish National Party (SNP), came to the defense of Michael Matheson. According to our colleagues at BBChe does not support the recommendation of sanctions, he judges this process “harmful”, and thinks that it could discredit the Parliament.
This is not the opinion of the opposition Labor MP Martin Whitfield, who on the contrary believes that this decision reflects the seriousness of the alleged facts. “If there were no mitigating factors, including the impact on the member and his family, the proposed sanctions would likely be greater.”he adds.
Author: Keleops AG