Former SNP Minister Defends Handling of £11,000 iPad Roaming Charges Scandal

Michael Matheson claims the controversy, which led to his resignation, was exaggerated for political gain.

Michael Matheson, a former SNP health secretary, faced backlash over a £11,000 data roaming bill incurred during a family holiday in Morocco in 2022.
The charges were initially covered by taxpayers before Matheson reimbursed the full amount following public and parliamentary criticism.
An investigation concluded Matheson breached the MSP code of conduct, leading to his resignation and a record 27-day suspension from parliament.
Matheson admitted his sons used the parliamentary iPad as a hotspot to stream football but argued the issue was amplified for political advantage during an election period.
The controversy caused significant personal and family stress, with Matheson highlighting the 'unforgiving' nature of political scrutiny in his comments to a think tank.