Chairman refuses to quit over police board member row

Scottish Police Authority (SPA) chairman Andrew Flanagan has apologised for his treatment of a former board member but told MSPs he will not quit.

Mr Flanagan has come under pressure to resign following an accusation of bullying and serious concerns over transparency at the police watchdog.

He told Holyrood’s Justice Sub-Committee on Policing that while there had been some “reputational damage” to the organisation, it would more damaging if he were to go.

The controversy centres around a letter sent by Mr Flanagan to board member Moi Ali, who resigned after publicly objecting to holding meetings in private.

Mr Flanagan suggested it would not be fair for her to continue to attend committee meetings – a move Ms Ali described as “bullying”.

He told MSPs he had now written to Ms Ali offering “my full and unreserved personal apology”.

The apology came after Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee wrote to Justice Secretary Michael Matheson on Friday, branding Mr Flanagan’s behaviour as “unacceptable”.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government has noted that the chair has issued a letter of apology to Moi Ali and outlined a number of actions going forward to the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing.”

SPA chairman Andrew Flanagan.