Health secretary Michael Matheson resigns over iPad scandal

By Laurie Finlayson

Michael Matheson resigns amid scandal (Image: Getty Images)

The Scottish Government’s Health Secretary, Michael Matheson, has resigned after he amassed an £11,000 bill on a parliamentary iPad. He accrued the bill during a holiday in Morocco in 2022.

This comes after an investigation into the incident by the Scottish Parliament’s Corporate Body was made public.

The bill was initially covered with public money. However, Mr Matheson has since paid it back in full and issued an apology.

In December, he admitted that the tablet was used to watch football matches and was not a “legitimate” expense, as was originally claimed.

In his resignation statement to the First Minister, the former health secretary said: “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."

Matheson’s junior minister, Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Elena Whitham, also resigned this week due to health problems.

The First Minister has announced that his former campaign leader, Neil Gray, is the new health secretary.