JUSTICE Secretary Michael Matheson has rejected calls to resign after one of his officials was warned not to interfere in
the work of Scotland’s police watchdog. Matheson told MSPs at Holyrood he “fully supported” the independence of Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) Kate Frame.
The issue was being discussed at Holyrood as it emerged the Pirc is looking at a fifth allegation of gross misconduct against Police Scotland Chief Constable Phil Gormley.
Emails published at the weekend showed Frame rebuked the deputy director of the Scottish Government’s police division for suggesting in November that her report on the Scottish Police Authority (SPA)’s complaint handling procedures might be delayed. The email was sent against the backdrop of ongoing misconduct allegations against Gormley and Frame said her perception was of “governmental interference”.
Matheson has already been under pressure over his role in the SPA reversing a decision in November to allow Gormley, who denies the allegations against him, to return to work after being put on special leave.
Tory MSP Liam Kerr claimed yesterday: “We now know there is a deeply embedded culture of secrecy and central interference and that tone is set from the top. Michael Matheson should have the good grace to realise what that means and if he doesn’t we should spell it out. He has fallen short of the standards expected in high office. He does not have the moral credibility to do his job. When will he do the honourable thing and resign?”
Matheson responded: “I’ll continue to do the honourable thing and that is to do my job properly.”
He said the government had no knowledge of the contents of the Pirc’s report when the email was sent, but added it was “legitimate” for officials to “highlight potential risks that may be relevant to the work of a public body”. Matheson said: “I recognise the Pirc believes aspects of the email from my official could be perceived as Government interference with her independence. I also recognise it is important there should be no room for ambiguity in communications and I fully support the independence of the Pirc.
“The decision on what action was appropriate in light of those issues was clearly a matter for the Pirc and the Pirc has made it clear there has been no interference in this publication. As the Pirc has also stated, it decided it was appropriate to proceed as planned in the publication of the report and I fully support the independent decision making of the Pirc in this matter.”
Matheson said he only became aware of the official’s email last Thursday when Pirc told the Government the correspondence is to be released through freedom of information laws.
Labour MSP Daniel Johnson also called for Matheson to stand down, saying: “The attempt to interfere and failing is morally no different from attempting to interfere and succeeding.”
The latest complaint against Gormley was referred by the SPA to Pirc. Frame confirmed she considered that, if proved, the claim would amount to gross misconduct.
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