Hunt for expert to review MSP complaints after Tories 'put process in disrepute'

HOLYROOD managers have started advertising for an independent expert to review the Scottish parliament’s complaints process after Tory MSPs threw it into “disrepute”.  

It comes around one year after MSPs voted to sanction former health secretary Michael Matheson after he lied about an iPad roaming bill of around £11,000, racked up by his family watching football in Morocco.

Matheson had initially tried to charge the taxpayer for the bill, claiming it had been accrued while doing official work, but was later forced to admit his deception and resign from government.

MSPs then supported a motion sanctioning Matheson – who was suspended from sitting as an MSP for 27 days and lost 54 days of salary – but that motion also criticised Tory MSPs for the way the complaints process had been handled.

Former health secretary Michael Matheson charged the public £11,000 for an iPad roaming billHolyrood’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee had reviewed the case and decided on the punishment to be recommended – but Conservatives Stephen Kerr and Annie Wells both made public statements on the case while they were supposed to review it in an unbiased manner.

Kerr resigned his position due to the public pronouncements, but Wells remained in place. 

The motion agreed by MSPs said that Wells had run “the risk of the committee report being open to bias and prejudice and the complaint being prejudged, thereby bringing the Parliament into disrepute”.

It further called on the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) to “initiate an independent review of the Parliament's complaints process to restore integrity and confidence in the Parliament and its procedures”.

That motion was passed in May 2024, and the SPCB has now begun advertising for someone to take on the review.

The parliament said that the review is “expected to equate to up to 40 days’ work for the successful applicant”, and that the SPCB is looking to appoint a suitable expert before summer recess. 

The outcome of the review will be a report to the SPCB by the end of 2025.

A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “The Parliament instructed the SPCB to undertake an independent review of the complaints process.   

“The focus will be on the process for recommending and agreeing sanctions on MSPs.    

 “The SPCB has today advertised for a suitably qualified expert to carry out the review.

“The expectation is the role should be no more than 40 days’ work for the successful applicant.”   

Applicants have until May 29 to submit a quotation for the work as well as supporting documents.