Michael Matheson defends himself against backlash over iPad scandal, claiming it was exaggerated and affected his family.
Edinburgh: Michael Matheson is speaking out about the iPad scandal. He says it was blown out of proportion. The former SNP Health Secretary feels the political climate is unforgiving.
Matheson shared that his home was broken into and his kids had to leave school. He resigned last year after racking up nearly £11,000 in charges on a Holyrood iPad during a family trip to Morocco.
Initially, he claimed he didn’t know about the charges and expected taxpayers to cover them. But after questions arose, he admitted his kids used the iPad to stream football.
He apologized and faced a 27-day ban from Holyrood, along with a 54-day salary suspension. In a recent interview, he reflected on his career and resignation.
Matheson noted the harshness of politics. He wanted to protect his son’s actions from the press, but it backfired. He emphasized that mistakes are less forgiving for ministers than for backbenchers.
He also mentioned the toll on his family, especially his teenage children. The public nature of the scandal affected their lives significantly.
Matheson believes the situation escalated when the general election was called. He felt it became a political tool, leading to exaggerated reactions.
Previously, he served as Justice Secretary and criticized Michael Gove for lacking interest in his role. He also noted that Nicola Sturgeon was more detail-oriented than Alex Salmond.
John Swinney responded to Matheson’s comments, stating that Parliament has already addressed these issues and reached conclusions.
