Ex-minister Michael Matheson suspended from Holyrood over iPad roaming bill row

Oliver Browning

23 May 2024 at 12:41 pm·1-min read

Former health secretary Michael Matheson has been suspended from the Scottish Parliament for 27 days and will lose his salary for 54 days after racking up a near-£11,000 data roaming bill.

Mr Matheson was found to have breached the MSP code of conduct by attempting to use expenses and office costs to cover the bill for a parliamentary iPad.

Later announcing he would cover the costs himself, Mr Matheson revealed the bill had been the result of his children using the device as a wifi hotspot to watch football during a holiday in Morocco.

Scotland’s first minister John Swinney has slammed the process to suspend Mr Matheson, labelling it “prejudiced” due to public comments made by members of the committee.

Australian Associated Press
Fox is poles apart with gold medal spree ahead of Games
Australia's Jessica Fox is perfectly placed for her fourth Olympic Games after winning three gold medals at the Canoe Slalom World Cup in Poland.
Australian Associated Press
Two killed, several wounded in shooting in Texas park
Authorities in Texas say a shooting in a park during a Juneteenth celebration has left two people dead and several wounded.
Australian Associated Press
Mitchell gets Blues recall, Moses in for Hynes
Michael Maguire has dropped Nicho Hynes and called Mitch Moses into the NSW side for State of Origin II, with Latrell Mitchell one of five new faces.
Australian Associated Press
Russian forces kill ISIS-linked hostage takers
Several terrorism-accused inmates who allegedly took guards hostage at a Russian pre-trial detention facility have been shot dead by special forces.
Australian Associated Press
Former French president Sarkozy flags poll chaos risk
Possible chaos triggered by Emmanuel Macron's decision to call a snap French election could be challenging to get out of, a former president has warned.
Australian Associated Press
Giants soar to fifth with scrappy win over Power
GWS have shot up to fifth spot on the AFL ladder with a 22-point win over Port Adelaide in a contest blighted by poor goalkicking.
Australian Associated Press
Luai stars as Panthers survive Knights scare
Jarome Luai was inspirational as Penrith built a 14-point half-time lead that powered the reigning NRL premiers to victory over Newcastle.
Australian Associated Press
Aussie Matt Burton claims emotional Cairns Ironman win
West Australian triathlete Matt Burton has won the Ironman Asia-Pacific championship in Cairns, with Kiwi Hannah Berry taking out the women's title.
Australian Associated Press
Fowler breaks scoring record as Fever beat Swifts
The NSW Swifts cut ties with controversial import Sam Joseph-Wallace but had no answers for record-breaking Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard as they lost to the Fever.
Australian Associated Press
Feeney claims back-to-back Darwin race wins
Triple Eight driver Broc Feeney has notched his fifth Supercars win of the year, leading teammate Will Brown for a one-two finish in the final Darwin race.
Australian Associated Press
Pies pull off stunning AFL comeback to deny Kangaroos
Collingwood fought back from 54 points down as Bobby Hill kicked five goals, including the match-winner, in a stunning one-point triumph over North Melbourne.
Australian Associated Press
One man dead, two survive after yacht capsizes
A father and son have been rescued and a third man is dead after a yacht capsized off the central Queensland coast, triggering a major search operation.
Australian Associated Press
Seibold lauds gutsy Manly after 30-14 win over Dragons
Manly have moved into the NRL's top eight with a spirited 30-14 win over St George Illawarra.
Australian Associated Press
Knocking out England not on mind as Aussies beat Scots
Australia have pulled off a last-over win against Scotland, keeping England's Twenty20 World Cup alive and avoiding another spirit-of-cricket debate.
Australian Associated Press
Biden slams US Supreme Court at star-studded fundraiser
Hollywood celebrities George Clooney and Julia Roberts were among the guests at a fundraiser for Joe Biden that raised $42 million for his re-election campaign.
Australian Associated Press
Aussie boxer Paro stuns 'bogeyman' to claim world title
Aussie boxer Liam Paro has scored a stunning upset, claiming the IBF junior welterweight title with a unanimous points win over Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico.
Australian Associated Press
Mavs knock on top-four door, extend Firebirds' misery
The Queensland Firebirds' turbulent off-court week has ended in further disappointment on the court with a 12-goal loss to the Melbourne Mavericks.
Australian Associated Press
Wong links PNG diplomacy to climate change in Pacific
Canberra's commitment to engaging the Pacific region on climate change is demonstrated by a delegation to Papua New Guinea this week, the foreign minister says.
Australian Associated Press
Weather, Scotland fail to sink England's T20 World Cup
Holders England's World Cup hopes remain alive after they beat Namibia - and the driving rain - while Scotland were unable to get the better of Australia.
Australian Associated Press
Relaxed DeChambeau on course to claim second US Open
American Bryson DeChambeau has a great chance to grab a second US Open title after establishing a three-shot third-round lead at Pinehurst No.2.

Latest stories