Michael Matheson, the disgraced former health secretary of Scotland, is facing pressure to reject a £13,000 severance payment following his resignation earlier this week over a staggering £11,000 bill incurred during his family’s holiday trip to Morocco.
Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, stated that voters would be appalled if Matheson accepted the payment, given the months it took for him to resign from his position.
Matheson, aged 53, eventually resigned from his role as health secretary following persistent calls for his departure or for First Minister Humza Yousaf to dismiss him, all stemming from the
In November, Matheson confessed in a heartfelt statement to the Scottish Parliament that his teenage sons had utilized the iPad for personal entertainment while abroad, contradicting his previous claims of no personal use.
Initially attempting to have taxpayers cover the costs through expenses, Matheson later agreed to bear the full expenses himself.
Despite his resignation, Matheson is slated to receive a severance fee of £12,712, equivalent to 25% of his final ministerial salary. However, Ross vehemently opposes Matheson’s acceptance of this payment, emphasizing the public’s dissatisfaction with his prolonged tenure despite the scandal.
The resignation precedes the outcome of an investigation by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body into Matheson’s expenses claim for the iPad charges, with Ross raising doubts about Matheson’s future as a Member of the Scottish Parliament based on the investigation’s findings.
Matheson’s resignation letter to Yousaf lacked any apology, further fueling criticism from Ross and the public. His decision to step down was attributed to preventing the iPad controversy from overshadowing the government’s agenda.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.