<p>Scotland's Health Secretary Michael Matheson on Thursday (Feb 8th) quit in the wake of a scandal involving data roaming charges of around £11,000 ($13,855) on his official iPad. In his resignation, the Scottish National Party (SNP) minister said he was standing down to prevent the row from becoming a 'distraction'.</p>

<p>For weeks, Matheson has been pressured to resign while Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf was pressured to fire him.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Statement <a href="https://t.co/4Fc5XPnjyD">pic.twitter.com/4Fc5XPnjyD</a></p>
— Michael Matheson MSP (@MathesonMichael) <a href="https://twitter.com/MathesonMichael/status/1755550165400801316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Why does a roaming bill matter?</strong></h2>

<p>The roaming bill worth thousands of pounds was racked up on Matheson's official device — to be paid from taxpayer money.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sex-tape-scandal-grips-frances-senate-after-female-medic-claims-to-possess-incriminating-video-of-senator-688266">Sex tape scandal grips France’s senate after female medic claims to possess incriminating video of senator</a></strong></p>

<p>The significant cost was incurred while the ex-minister was in Morocco on a Christmas break with his family. He tried to charge the roaming fees to taxpayers by claiming it through expenses.&nbsp;Matheson later said he would foot the bill himself.</p>

<p>After insisting that there had been no personal use of the iPad in November of last year, in an emotional statement to the Scottish Parliament, he admitted that his teenage sons had used the device to watch football.</p>

<p>Of the £11,000, around £7,000 worth of usage was clocked on January 2nd, 2023, the day of an Old Firm fixture between Celtic and Rangers.</p>

<h2><strong>Humza Yousaf faces criticism</strong></h2>

<p>When the news of Matheson's significant roaming bill broke, Yousaf had defended him, saying he was a "man of integrity".</p>

<p>Now, this is coming back to haunt him. As per the Daily Mail, Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross has demanded that "Humza Yousaf must explain why he defended him as a 'man of integrity and honesty' when he knew his former health secretary had lied."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-koreas-yoon-calls-wifes-dior-bag-scandal-a-political-manoeuvre-688285">South Korea's Yoon calls wife's 'Dior bag scandal' a political manoeuvre</a></strong></p>

<p>Furthermore, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie remarked that Yousaf "has big questions to answer over his lack of judgment".</p>

<p>"While I welcome the news that Michael Matheson has finally gone, the fact is the First Minister has big questions to answer over his lack of judgment," said&nbsp;Baillie.</p>

<p>"While our NHS is in crisis, Humza Yousaf has shown his weakness by putting the SNP before our NHS.&nbsp;Now more than ever, we need a health minister focused on the crisis at hand,"&nbsp;she&nbsp;added.</p>

<p>"It’s clear that the First Minister has no plan to save our NHS and that shuffling the SNP deckchairs will make no difference—it's time for change," Baillie further said</p>

<h2><strong>Parliamentary probe</strong></h2>

<p>As per the report, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is probing the data roaming charges. The body can refer Matheson to the Standards, Procedures, and Public Appointments Committee. If that happens, the ex-minster could lose access to 'all or part' of his parliamentary expenses.</p>


Scotland's Health Secretary Michael Matheson on Thursday (Feb 8th) quit in the wake of a scandal involving data roaming charges of around £11,000 ($13,855) on his official iPad.

Scotland's Health Secretary Michael Matheson on Thursday (Feb 8th) quit in the wake of a scandal involving data roaming charges of around £11,000 ($13,855) on his official iPad. In his resignation, the Scottish National Party (SNP) minister said he was standing down to prevent the row from becoming a 'distraction'. For weeks, Matheson has been pressured to resign while Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf was pressured to fire him. Statement pic.twitter.com/4Fc5XPnjyD — Michael Matheson MSP (@MathesonMichael) February 8, 2024 × Why does a roaming bill matter? The roaming bill worth thousands of pounds was racked up on Matheson's official device — to be paid from taxpayer money. Also read | Sex tape scandal grips France’s senate after female medic claims to possess incriminating video of senator The significant cost was incurred while the ex-minister was in Morocco on a Christmas break with his family. He tried to charge the roaming fees to taxpayers by claiming it through expenses. Matheson later said he would foot the bill himself. After insisting that there had been no personal use of the iPad in November of last year, in an emotional statement to the Scottish Parliament, he admitted that his teenage sons had used the device to watch football. Of the £11,000, around £7,000 worth of usage was clocked on January 2nd, 2023, the day of an Old Firm fixture between Celtic and Rangers. Humza Yousaf faces criticism When the news of Matheson's significant roaming bill broke, Yousaf had defended him, saying he was a "man of integrity". Now, this is coming back to haunt him. As per the Daily Mail, Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross has demanded that "Humza Yousaf must explain why he defended him as a 'man of integrity and honesty' when he knew his former health secretary had lied." Also read | South Korea's Yoon calls wife's 'Dior bag scandal' a political manoeuvre Furthermore, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie remarked that Yousaf "has big questions to answer over his lack of judgment". "While I welcome the news that Michael Matheson has finally gone, the fact is the First Minister has big questions to answer over his lack of judgment," said Baillie. "While our NHS is in crisis, Humza Yousaf has shown his weakness by putting the SNP before our NHS. Now more than ever, we need a health minister focused on the crisis at hand," she added. "It’s clear that the First Minister has no plan to save our NHS and that shuffling the SNP deckchairs will make no difference—it's time for change," Baillie further said Parliamentary probe As per the report, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is probing the data roaming charges. The body can refer Matheson to the Standards, Procedures, and Public Appointments Committee. If that happens, the ex-minster could lose access to 'all or part' of his parliamentary expenses.

£11,000 iPad roaming bill forces Scotland minister Michael Matheson to resign. Here's what happened

michael-matheson

Michael Matheson, News on Michael Matheson, stories on Michael Matheson, articles on Michael Matheson, Michael Matheson stories at Wion, Michael Matheson news, Michael Matheson latest news

michael matheson

£11,000 iPad roaming bill forces Scotland minister Michael Matheson to resign. Here's what happened