Labour adds to calls for Matheson’s resignation
● Pressure mounts on justice secretary over policing ‘interference’
Pressure mounted on justice secretary Michael Matheson last night when Holyrood’s two main opposition parties demanded his resignation over claims of political interference in the policing system.
After Mr Matheson was forced to Holyrood to answer questions about recent controversies, Labour issued a statement saying he should quit his Cabinet job.
Labour’s justice spokesman Daniel Johnson took the step after Mr Matheson faced repeated Conservative calls for his resignation in the Scottish Parliament. Previously Labour has said he should “consider his position”.
Mr Matheson was hauled in front of parliament after it emerged that one of his most senior civil servants sought to delay the publication of a report into the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc). E-mails published at the weekend revealed that Scottish Government official Don Mcgillivray suggested that Pirc Kate Frame could hold back publication of the report into SPA complaints.
The suggestion was rejected by the commissioner who stated: “My perception of your remarks is of governmental interference with my independence.”
The e-mails came to light after former SPA chair Andrew Flanagan told MSPS he felt he had no choice but to block the planned return to work of sidelined Police Scotland Chief Constable Phil Gormley after Mr Matheson intervened in the process. Mr Matheson said he had first heard of the e-mails last Thursday when he was advised that an article based on them was to be published in the press.
Mr Matheson claimed there had been “no instance” of governmental interference. He said: “I recognise that the Pirc believes that aspects of the email that was sent by my official on 30 November could be perceived as being government interference with her independence.
“I also recognise that it is important that there should be no room for ambiguity in communications. I fully support the independence of the Polices Investigations and Review Commissioner.”
Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr repeated his party’s call for Mr Matheson to go. His call was ech-
0 Justice secretary Michael Matheson responds to questions from Labour’s Daniel Johnson oed by his fellow Tory Gordon Lindhurst.
After Mr Matheson’s appearance in parliament, Mr Johnson issued a statement saying: “The justice secretary and his department have now repeatedly shown a callous disregard for the independence of policing and external bodies.
“The cabinet secretary had to be dragged to Parliament to answer our questions and quite frankly, failed to provide any justification for his actions. It is clear that Michael Matheson has over-stepped his authority and is no longer fit to serve in the Scottish Government cabinet as justice secretary. He must now do the right thing and stand down.”