Neil Gray's chauffeured pub trip within the rules, says Swinney
John Swinney has defended his health secretary following accusations that he was chauffeured to a pub before a football match.
The first minister said the car used by Neil Gray was 'in accordance with the rules that have been set out within the guidance'.
In November last year, Gray apologised after it emerged he had attended four Aberdeen football matches and was driven to the games in a government car.
He admitted he had given the impression of 'acting more as a fan and less as a minister' and should have 'attended a wider range of games'.
However, he said it was legitimate for ministers to attend sporting events and he would continue to do so.
The Scottish Daily Mail reported that before an Aberdeen v Livingston game last year, Gray was driven to the Brig O'Don pub.
Neil Gray was driven to the Brig O'Don pub before watching a matching between Aberdeen and Livingston
Opponents have heaped pressure on the health secretary over the car journeys, but in January a Conservative motion calling on him to quit failed.
Swinney was asked about Gray's car use as he attended the British-Irish Council summit in Northern Ireland.
He said: 'The ministerial car was used in accordance with the rules that have been set out within the guidance on this occasion. And those rules that are clearly and publicly advertised have been followed on this occasion.'
Pressed again on the issue, he said the regulations had been 'followed appropriately on this occasion'.
A Scottish government spokesman told the Scottish Daily Mail that the Brig O'Don trip was not initially revealed due to an 'administrative error', adding: 'Mr Gray travelled from government business to a restaurant for a personal engagement before returning to government business.'
The Scottish Labour deputy leader, Dame Jackie Baillie, said a further explanation was needed.
She said: 'The decision to take a taxpayer-funded car to the pub is questionable enough — but the fact it was hidden from the public reeks of a cover-up.
'Neil Gray must come clean about exactly what happened here and explain why exactly this trip to the pub was legitimate government business.'
Rachael Hamilton, a Scottish Conservative MSP, said the 'inaccuracy was hard to fathom.
'He needs to explain why he and his team originally claimed that his ministerial limo took him to a home address rather than to a restaurant for socialising. Given the scandal the misuse of his government car caused, the health secretary ought to have double checked every journey to make sure that his account was factually correct, so this inaccuracy is hard to fathom'.
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
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Earlier in the week, two 14-year-old boys were arrested and charged with the attempted rape of a young girl. Romanian interpreters were required at court. After the arrests, the alleged victim's family asked for support and solidarity from their local community. Hundreds did so, peacefully protesting to show the family that they weren't alone. Then came the violence. The chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the victim of the alleged assault has been 'further traumatised' by the rioting. Her family have publicly called for the violence to stop. Women have never been safe in Northern Ireland. Generations bore the weight of the Troubles, running households and raising children with absent husbands. Hundreds were murdered in the conflict. During the peace talks that led to the Good Friday agreement, the Women's Coalition, a political party, described the 30-year conflict as an 'armed patriarchy'. 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The Guardian
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The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish clubs set to push for football alcohol ban lift
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