Summary

  • MSPs reject the call to refer Humza Yousaf and Shona Robison to an independent adviser

  • The Scottish Tories led a debate accusing the first minister and deputy first minister of misleading the parliament

  • Douglas Ross insisted Humza Yousaf and Shona Robison misled Holyrood over the Scottish government's Covid WhatsApp messages

  • The deputy first minister accepted the government interpreted requests for messages from the UK inquiry "too narrowly"

  • Shona Robison said her government was committed to full transparency and said 28,000 documents had been handed over to the UK inquiry

  • Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar argued the government "attempted to withhold vital evidence"

  • Speaking for the Lib Dems, Alex Cole-Hamilton said the SNP were "afraid of the truth"

Live Reporting

  1. Analysis

    'At the end of a full debate comes a vote, which the SNP-Green majority will win'

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    The Conservatives are quite keen at the moment on finding ways to keep awkward issues running at Holyrood.

    They’re using their debating time to push this motion about Humza Yousaf and Shona Robison, and are also threatening Michael Matheson with a vote of no confidence over his iPad roaming bills.

    The idea is that this piles pressure on the government, by keeping these stories at the top of the agenda.

    The thing is, the government probably aren’t particularly upset to have these votes take place in parliament.

    Yes, it will make for an uncomfortable afternoon defending their position, once again – although perhaps no more so than it is each week at First Minister’s Questions.

    But at the end of a full debate comes a vote, which the SNP-Green majority will win.

    And then ministers will be able to argue that parliament has examined the issues and taken a view, and that a line should be drawn under matters.

    As far as they’re concerned, that’s probably a better outcome than allowing matters to drag out for days or weeks more.

  2. Analysis

    'Accurate and truthful information' of paramount importance

    Angus Cochrane
    BBC Scotland News

    Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross is urging First Minister Humza Yousaf and his deputy Shona Robison to refer themselves to the independent advisers on the Scottish Ministerial Code, which sets out guidance on procedures for ministers.

    Independent advisers were introduced in 2008. The current advisers are former lord advocate Dame Elish Angiolini and James Hamilton, former director of public prosecutions at the Irish Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

    First ministers can refer matters to them “to provide advice on which to base their judgement about any action required in respect of ministerial conduct”.

    Mr Ross claims Mr Yousaf and Ms Robinson have potentially breached paragraph 1.3(c) of the code.

    That section states: “It is of paramount importance that ministers give accurate and truthful information to the parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity.”

    It adds that any minister who “knowingly” misleads parliament would be expected to resign.

    Mr Hamilton previously cleared former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of misleading parliament over meetings she had with her predecessor Alex Salmond after he was accused of misconduct. Mr Salmond denied the claims and was later cleared of 13 charges of sexual assault charges at a High Court trial.

  3. Background: Yousaf denies misleading parliament over WhatsApps

    Angus Cochrane
    BBC Scotland News

    First Minister Humza Yousaf said the government was first asked for group messages in SeptemberPA Media

    First Minister Humza Yousaf said the government was first asked for group messages in September

    Humza Yousaf has denied misleading parliament over government WhatsApp messages sent during the pandemic.

    The first minister and his deputy Shona Robison told MSPs last week they were asked to submit group messages to the UK Covid Inquiry in September.

    But a timeline published by Ms Robison on Wednesday stated ministers had first been asked to release WhatsApp files seven months earlier in February.

    Opposition leaders accused Mr Yousaf of a cover up.

    He rejected this but said his government had interpreted requests for messages from the UK inquiry "too narrowly".

  4. Background: The unanswered questions in Holyrood's £11,000 iPad bill row

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    Minister blames £11,000 iPad roaming bill on outdated SIM card

    Scottish Health Secretary Michael Matheson is facing continued questions - and potentially a no-confidence vote - over an £11,000 data roaming bill incurred on his parliament-issued iPad while in Morocco.

    The MSP has agreed to pay the money back, but that has not settled the matter as far as opposition MSPs are concerned.

    There is scrutiny of how the charges were racked up, what Mr Matheson told the parliamentary authorities, and why it was initially paid for from the public purse.

    Click here to find out more from our political correspondent Philip Sim.

  5. Humza Yousaf gives 100% backing to health secretary in iPad row

    Health Secretary Michael MathesonPA Media

    Health Secretary Michael Matheson

    Humza Yousaf has given "100% backing" to Health Secretary Michael Matheson, who is facing a vote of no confidence.

    The first minister said Matheson, who racked up £11,000 in data roaming charges on a parliamentary iPad during a holiday to Morocco last year, had made an "honest mistake".

    The Tories have threatened a no confidence motion if he does not hand in the device to Holyrood authorities.

    Yousaf called the debate an "unhelpful distraction".

    Matheson has rejected calls to hand in the iPad and said the matter had already been investigated by parliament.

  6. Welcome

    Humza Yousaf and Shona Robison have warned of touch choices aheadPA Media

    Humza Yousaf and Shona Robison have warned of touch choices ahead

    Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the Covid WhatsApps debate.

    The Scottish Conservatives will use their debating time at Holyrood today to call for the first minister and deputy first minister to be investigated for potential breaches of the ministerial code.

    The party believes Humza Yousaf and Shona Robison made misleading statements to the Scottish Parliament about the UK Covid Inquiry, a charge they reject.

    There's also every chance the issue of Health Secretary Michael Matheson's £11,000 roaming charges bill will be raised.

    If you want to watch the debate just click on the play icon at the top of this page. It's due to begin at 14:50.