Another day, another report about the SNP’s behaviour in office. Now, the accused is Education Secretary and former transport minister Jenny Gilruth, who faces claims that she breached the ministerial code. Gilruth is alleged to have deliberately chosen to delay vital rail works – which will cost the taxpayer around £1 million– to allow her own constituents to travel over the Christmas period. Rules for thee but not for me…
The ministerial code states that frontbenchers must not use their position to influence constituency matters, meaning that if an investigation finds Gilruth guilty then she could lose her cabinet post. And opposition leader Douglas Ross was keen to make capital out of the story at First Minister’s Questions. He turned up at Holyrood with a stapled stack of email print-outs in hand to grill Humza Yousaf, asking him:
Does the First Minister think it’s acceptable for a minister to make a political decision for her own benefit instead of acting in the interests of all of Scotland?
Gilruth has said that the proposed rail works would have disrupted travel for passengers across the entire east coast of Scotland – not just her constituency. But that doesn’t quite explain why she ignored advice from officials that delays would affect an extra 9,000 passengers at a six-figure cost to the taxpayer. It comes amid fresh questions being asked about the unexpected departure of Chris Gibb, former leader of the government company which was formed to oversee ScotRail’s nationalisation. Gibb left his role early — due in part, it is claimed, because of interference from ministers.
And now Ms Gilruth is facing further questions over claims that she may have misled parliament. Gilruth told MSPs that former rail boss Chris Gibb did not leave his chief executive position at Scottish government-owned Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH) because of political interference. It is understood Gibb had been critical of ‘continued micromanagement by Scottish ministers, advisers and officials’ in SRH. In a report presented to the SRH board Gibb added that ‘as a result, I have not sought an extension to my contract’.
Never mind, if there’s anyone who is going to get to the bottom of this mess, it’s the First Minister. Mr S is reminded of the immortal words of Kate Forbes when she faced off against him earlier this year:
When you were transport minister. the trains were never on time. When you were justice minister, the police were strained to breaking point and now as health minister we’ve got record-high waiting times.What makes you think you can do a better job as First Minister?
If anyone knows about being on the wrong track, it’s hapless Humza Yousaf…
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