Achi news desk-
This is the harshest sanction ever given by the committee. The Senedd will vote whether the recommendations should be approved.
There was some disagreement on the committee over the length of the punishment with two SNP MLAs saying it was too long.
The two Tory members, and convener Martin Whitfield supported the four-week ban.
READ MORE: Michael Matheson breached the ASA code of conduct
Mr Matheson will now come under pressure to resign as an MSP and trigger a by-election.
If he had been banned for more than ten days in Westminster it would have automatically triggered a recall petition which would have given his constituents the power to ban him.
However, there is no such mechanism at Holyrood.
The former health minister resigned from the Scottish Government on February 8 ahead of a damning report by the Scottish Parliament’s Corporate Body.
They then referred the SNP politician to the Scottish Parliament’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.
The MSP came under scrutiny last November when the Daily Telegraph revealed a data roaming bill of £10,935.74.
He initially agreed to pay £3,000 of his taxpayer-funded expenses, with the Scottish Parliament paying the rest.
However, days later, after journalists and MLAs questioned the payment, he agreed to pay the full amount out of his own pocket.
At first, he claimed the measure was the result of parliamentary work while on a family holiday in Morocco and a misunderstanding with a new sim card.
He then told MLAs in an emotional statement on November 16 that he had discovered that his sons had been watching football during the family trip.
He said he was informed by his wife on November 9 that the teenagers had used his parliamentary device as a wifi hotspot.
READ MORE: Matheson, ‘a decent person who made a mistake’ insists that Yousaf
However, on November 13, when asked directly if there was “any personal use” of the device during the family vacation, he told reporters: “No.”
It also emerged that he had met with parliamentary authorities, including President Alison Johnstone during the period and did not tell them that his boys were responsible for racking up the charges.
In his statement, Mr Whitfield said that “the standards of behavior expected of Members of the Scottish Parliament” had not been met by Mr Matheson.
“In his statement to the Senedd and representations to the SPCB and the Committee, Mr Matheson has indicated that since he became aware of the circumstances in which the use of data took place, he has been motivated by trying to protect his family.
“Mr Matheson has described the significant impact on his family. The Committee recognizes the impact of the significant media and other interventions that occurred on Mr Matheson and his family.
“However, the obligations that each Member has under the Code, the Expenses Scheme and relevant SPCB policies are of the utmost importance to maintain the integrity of the Scheme and the framework of ethical standards, which flow from the Nolan Principles, which a basis for carrying out parliamentary duties.
“Any failure to meet those obligations has a detrimental effect on the reputation of the Expenses Scheme, Members and the Senedd in general.”
He said the committee was concerned that, although he knew his sons were behind the distraction, Mr Matheson did not tell the parliamentary authorities, including the President, “more timely.”
Mr Whitfield said the committee was unanimous on the need for a sanction. He said they agreed on “salary withdrawal for a period of 54 calendar days.”
However, there was disagreement over how long Mr Matheson should be banned.
He said the proposal for 27 days had been made by Tory MSP Annie Wells and supported by her colleague Oliver Mundell.
The SNP’s Jackie Dunbar and Alasdair Allan disagreed.
Mr Allan said that they recognized the need for our financial penalty in this case, “and in an effort to reach a consensus on the committee we have supported the figure that was agreed although we believe that it is certainly on the upper end of the range of sanctions available.”
He added: “On the issue of suspension from the chamber, we likewise recognize the need for such a penalty but we voted against the figure of 27 days, given that this is very high compared to any previous sanctions and cases.”
Mr Mundell said that the harsh sanction was necessary “considering the significant damage to the reputation of the parliament, on the public’s trust in it and its members.”
He added: “And it is clear to me from the evidence we have considered that those who have sent us here would not look kindly on a short suspension of one of our own, when many in the real world faced the very real possibility of losing their job under the circumstances.”
Scottish Labor Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said, “This damning ruling is yet another sorry chapter for an SNP government collapsing under the weight of its own sleaze.
“Michael Matheson has treated the public with contempt and the highest echelons of the SNP have closed ranks to try to protect him, putting the interests of the party ahead of the national interest.
“It cannot be right for ASA to remove the rules without the public having a chance to push them out – Scottish Labor would introduce a Right of Recall as part of our plans to clean up Holyrood.
“The disorganized and scandal-ridden SNP cannot deliver for the people of Scotland.”
More to follow…
