Summary

  • Humza Yousaf has appointed Neil Gray as Scotland's new health secretary

  • The move comes after Michael Matheson resigned in a letter to the first minister earlier today

  • The minister had apologised to MSPs over an £11,000 bill on his government iPad

  • Matheson told Holyrood his sons had run up the charges watching football

  • Humza Yousaf had given his colleague his full support after the apology

  • Yousaf has been quizzed on the resignation during First Minister's Questions

  • Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has questioned the FM's judgement after he previously described Matheson as a "man of integrity"

  • Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie welcomed the resignation but said Yousaf had put the SNP before the NHS

  • At FMQs, Labour leader Anas Sarwar focused on ambulance waiting times

  1. Neil Gray appointed health secretary: The key points of the daypublished at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    After a tumultuous day, here's a reminder of the headlines - starting with the appointment of Neil Gray as Scotland's new health secretary:

    • The resignation led to rowdy skirmishes between First Minister Humza Yousaf and Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross at FMQs
    • Yousaf was forced to defend his former health secretary, praising his record on NHS recovery
    • Douglas Ross called on the FM to apologise while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said Scotland needed "a change from this failing, incompetent SNP government"
    • Meanwhile, the minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol in Scotland is to be raised from 50p to 65p. Deputy First Minister Shona Robison made the announcement as she stepped in for Matheson

    That's all from our live page team today. The editor was Paul McLaren and the writers were Craig Hutchison, Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce and James Delaney.

  2. Here are the full details of Humza Yousaf's reshufflepublished at 18:03 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    New cabinetImage source, PA Media

    The first minister has finalised his cabinet reshuffle following the appointment of Neil Gray as the new health secretary.

    Gray replaces Michael Matheson who quit this morning over an £11,000 iPad roaming charge bill.

    Mairi McAllan now takes on his economy role and combines it with her current brief to be net zero and economy secretary.

    Her responsibilities for transport are handed over to Fiona Hyslop, who will now sit in cabinet in the promoted post as cabinet secretary for transport.

    Culture Minister Christina McKelvie is the new drug and alcohol policy minister - replacing Elena Whitham who quit earlier in the week due to ill-health.

    The Glasgow Kelvin MSP Kaukab Stewart has been promoted from the backbenches - becoming the first woman of colour to join the Scottish government. She replaces McKelvie in the culture, Europe and international development brief.

    The Perthshire South and Kinross-shire MSP Jim Fairlie - who supported Kate Forbes in the leadership race when she stood against Humza Yousaf - now becomes the minister for agriculture and connectivity.

  3. Kaukab Stewart is first woman of colour in Scottish governmentpublished at 17:48 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    kaukab stewartImage source, PA Media

    The Glasgow Kelvin MSP Kaukab Stewart has been promoted from the backbenches, becoming the first woman of colour to join the Scottish government in the Culture, Europe and International Development brief.

  4. Yousaf reshuffles his cabinetpublished at 17:46 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February
    Breaking

    Neil GrayImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Neil Gray during today's FMQs ahead of his appointment as health secretary

    The first minister is continuing his cabinet reshuffle following the appointment of Neil Gray as the new health secretary.

    Gray replaces Michael Matheson who quit this morning over an £11,000 iPad roaming charge bill.

    Mairi McAllan now takes on Gray's former economy role and combines it with her current brief to be net zero and economy secretary.

    Her responsibilities for transport are handed over to Fiona Hyslop, who will now sit in cabinet in the promoted post of cabinet secretary for transport.

    Culture Minister Christina McKelvie is the new drug and alcohol policy minister - replacing Elena Whitham who quit earlier in the week due to ill health.

  5. Former health secretary has advice for Neil Graypublished at 17:46 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    Alex Neil tells Drivetime Neil Gray was his parliamentary assistant during the time he held the role of health secretary: "He's actually seen at arms length what the job of health secretary entails."

    Neil says Gray fully understands the pressures of being health secretary, although these have increased "because the crisis in the health service is substantially much worse than what it was".

    He says he has already sent Neil Gray his paper, external, published last week on conjunction with Reform Scotland, on how to fix the NHS in Scotland.

  6. 'It's a self-inflicted wound' - former Health Secretary Alex Neilpublished at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    Alex NeilImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Alex Neil has had first-hand experience of being Scotland's health secretary

    As we've ben reporting, one of the toughest jobs in Scottish politics has been taken up by Neil Gray.

    The new health secretary has an incredibly demanding in-tray, something Alex Neil remembers all too well.

    He was the SNP's health secretary from 2012 to 2014 and he tells Drivetime he thinks Humza Yousaf has got this scandal wrong.

    "Unfortunately, and this is a great tragedy, it's a sad way for Michael to end his ministerial career. He made the mistake of not owning up right at the beginning."

    If he'd done that he would "easily have survived it", says Neil.

    He says it was a misjudgement both by Matheson and by the first minister to allow the "situation to go on and on and on".

    "It's a self-inflicted wound that could have been easily avoided in my view."

    The first minister really "needs to get a grip now" and avoid any further dithering, he says.

  7. Green MSP regrets Matheson resignationpublished at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    We're continuing to bring you all the reaction to Neil Gray's appointment as health secretary following Michael Matheson's resignation.

    Green MSP Mark Ruskell tells BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime the resignation was disappointing as Matheson was a "capable" minister.

    "What a very sad set of circumstances for him to be stepping down," he said, adding it was up to Matheson alone to decide if he should quit.

  8. Gray has got a tough job ahead of him, says Tory MSPpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    So, as we've been reporting, Holyrood is digesting the news that Neil Gray has become Scotland's new heatlh secretary.

    This, of course, comes after the resignation of Michael Matheson this morning.

    Megan Gallacher, the deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, tells BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime she finds it "extraordinary" that over the whole duration of "iPad gate" Humza Yousaf stood by Matheson.

    She says the former health secretary has been distracted for months and she points out we have yet to see the Scottish Parliamenary Corporate Body's report.

    Gallacher says: "He should have been sacked and that's down to Humza Yousaf being weak."

    She says Neil Gray has got "a tough job ahead of him" and she will wait and see what Gray's strategy will be to drive down A&E waiting times and NHS waiting lists.

  9. Analysis

    Who is Neil Gray?published at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    Andrew Kerr
    Scottish political correspondent

    neil grayImage source, PA Media

    So there you have it - Scotland's new health secretary is Neil Gray.

    He might be a new face to you, so here's a look at the life and career of Michael Matheson's successor.

    Neil Gray is a relative newcomer to Holyrood and now finds himself in charge of a multi-billion pound health budget.

    He became a member of the Scottish Parliament in 2021 - after quitting his Westminster Airdrie & Shotts seat.

    After a stint at the BBC he worked for the former health secretary, Alex Neil, in his constituency.

    He's close to Humza Yousaf and his nickname for the first minister is "Boss".

    When Nicola Sturgeon resigned he received a positive response from members but backed Humza Yousaf for the top job.

    Perhaps that though could indicate a well-spring of support if there was ever a vacancy for first minister?

    He's a capable and confident performer in front of a microphone and now takes on the most challenging brief in devolved government.

  10. Gray replaces Matheson... and more shuffling to comepublished at 16:38 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    For those of you just joining us on a hectic day for Scottish politics, we've been bringing you the breaking news that Neil Gray has been appointed as the new Scottish health secretary, replacing Michael Matheson.

    Gray steps up from his former position as secretary for the wellbeing economy, fair work and energy.

    Matheson resigned on Thursday morning ahead of the release of a report into an £11,000 data roaming bill racked up on his parliamentary iPad while on a family holiday in Morocco.

    It is expected to be the first of several new appointments made by First Minister Humza Yousaf in a significant cabinet reshuffle.

  11. Neil Gray is Scotland's new health secretarypublished at 16:21 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February
    Breaking

    Neil Gray has been confirmed as Scotland's new health secretary.

    He replaces Michael Matheson who resigned earlier today.

    More to follow

  12. Yousaf's reshuffle talks continuepublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    Jim Fairlie at Scottish parliament in February 2023Image source, Getty Images

    Jim Fairlie is the latest MSP to enter St Andrew's House to meet with First Minister Humza Yousaf ahead of an expected cabinet reshuffle.

    The SNP backbencher has been the MSP for Perthshire south and Kinross-shire since 2021. He was a supporter of Kate Forbes in her campaign to become first minister.

  13. Matheson's resignation and FMQs: What you need to knowpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    There's been a lot happening at Holyrood today. If you're just joining us then here's a reminder of the headlines from Michael Matheson's resignation, which in turn dominated FMQs:

    • Michael Matheson resigned as health secretary this morning ahead of a report into an £11,000 bill that was racked up on his parliamentary iPad
    • The iPad charges, initially paid out of the public purse, were incurred during a family trip to Morocco in late 2022
    • When details of the bill were first made public, Matheson said the device had only been used for parliamentary work
    • He later admitted that his sons had used the iPad as a data hotspot so they could watch football and has since paid back the bill in full and apologised
    • The resignation led to rowdy skirmishes between the first minister and Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross at FMQs
    • Humza Yousaf was forced to defend his former health secretary, praising his record on NHS recovery
    • Douglas Ross called on the FM to apologise while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said Scotland needed "a change from this failing, incompetent SNP government"
    • Meanwhile the minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol in Scotland is to be raised from 50p to 65p. Deputy First Minister Shona Robison made the announcement as she stepped in for Matheson
    • A number of cabinet secretaries have arrived at St Andrew's House, the Scottish government HQ, including Economy Secretary Neil Gray and Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi McAllan
    • It is expected that Matheson's replacement will be announced later this afternoon
  14. Analysis

    The new health minister faces a battle for fundspublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    David Henderson
    Political correspondent

    Whoever takes over as health secretary has a huge task on their hands.

    In his resignation letter, Michael Matheson said Scotland's NHS requires major reform to meet the growing demands it faces.

    The pandemic and an ageing population have left the health service under enormous strain.

    Mr Matheson's recent political woes can't have strengthened his position as he argued for more funding in the Budget.

    Health, while still heavily funded, looks to have lost out comparatively in this battle for resources.

    On Tuesday, the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank warned that health spending in Scotland faces a real terms CUT of 0.7%, at a time when pressure on the health service is rising.

    Perhaps a new health secretary will have better luck in the battle for funds.

  15. Matheson's resignation 'least surprising in Scottish political history'published at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    humza yousaf and michael mathesonImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Michael Matheson was a staunch ally of Humza Yousaf

    As we've been reporting Mairi McAllan, Neil Gray and Fiona Hyslop have all arrived at St Andrews' House for what we presume is Humza Yousaf's cabinet reshuffle.

    But just how surprising was Michael Matheson's resignation this morning?

    Not very, according to Andy Collier, a political commentator and previously a speech writer for Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon.

    He told BBC Scotland's Lunchtime Live: "I thinks it's probably the least surprising resignation, in a sense, in Scottish political history."

    Collier added he imagines the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body report into Matheson is likely to be damning.

    This leaves Humza Yousaf "with a bit of a headache" as the resignation comes "only hours after Elena Whitam, the drugs and alcohol minister, resigned for health reasons" and the first minister now has to find a replacement for Matheson.

    "That's not going to be an easy task."

  16. Analysis

    Don't be fooled into thinking Matheson quitting is the end of the matterpublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    Kirsten Campbell
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    Michael Matheson’s resignation is not the end of the matter - for him or for the government.

    It may be a couple of weeks before the findings of the Corporate Body review into whether his expenses claims were in line with the Parliament’s policies are made public.

    Those conclusions could then be referred to the Standards Committee with the cross party group of MSPs being tasked with deciding what, if any, sanctions should be imposed.

    Their deliberations will be in private, but their decision will be made public.

  17. A gaping hole at 14:25 in the ministerial diarypublished at 15:06 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    Andrew Kerr
    Scottish political correspondent

    The health secretary's sudden departure left a gaping hole at 14:25 in the ministerial diary as he was due to update MSPs on minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol in the chamber at Holyrood.

    It's a flagship Scottish government public health policy and it was left rather high and dry with Michael Matheson's resignation.

    However, we were quite quickly told that Deputy First Minister Shona Robison would step into the breach.

    She announced MUP was going up from 50p per unit to 65p.

    The Conservative MSP Tess White had a jibe that she may not be aware of all the "facts", what with being the understudy.

    The Tories are opposed to the hike during a cost of living crisis.

    Robison took great delight in saying she was in full command of the facts - as it was during her time as health secretary that MUP was first introduced.

    She criticised the Conservatives, saying their previous leader Jackson Carlaw had set politics aside when MUP first passed in Parliament.

  18. And next at St Andrew's House is...published at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    David Wallace Lockhart
    Political correspondent

    Mairi Gougeon is now in St Andrew’s House.

    She’s currently Rural Affairs Secretary. Will she be at the end of the day? She says “who knows?”

  19. Analysis

    Taking over on health will be an enormous challengepublished at 14:59 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    Lisa Summers
    BBC Scotland health correspondent

    Whoever succeeds Michael Matheson will inherit a portfolio of record long waits for routine treatment, of growing numbers of patients spending over 24 hours in an emergency department, and a staffing crisis across the whole of health and social care.

    Health boards are also under huge financial pressure, and there are warnings from think tanks and professional organisations that the NHS is simply not sustainable and cannot afford everything it is being asked to deliver.

    Last time I interviewed Michael Matheson he said that he accepted the NHS needed reform and said he would set out a long-term plan early this year, but he said the government was committed to the NHS remaining free for all who need it.

    It is going to be an enormous challenge for his the new health secretary to come up with a workable plan.

  20. MSPs continue to arrive ahead of cabinet reshufflepublished at 14:56 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February

    Fiona Hyslop arriving for FMQ in February 2024Image source, Getty Images

    Fiona Hyslop is the next MSP to be seen entering St Andrew's House ahead of Humza Yousaf's cabinet reshuffle.

    Economy Secretary Neil Gray and Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan are already inside the Scottish government HQ.

    Transport Minister Hyslop has been an MSP since 1999 - for the Lothian region until 2011 before becoming MSP for Linlithgow.