Yousaf ‘confident’ Jenny Gilruth did not breach ministerial code
Humza Yousaf has said he is confident Jenny Gilruth did not breach the ministerial code in a decision on rail works while she was transport minister.
The Conservatives had accused her of breaching the code by delaying rail works to benefit her constituents.
The row centres on proposed line electrification work between Edinburgh Haymarket and Dalmeny in West Lothian which would have caused eight days of disruption from Boxing Day last year.
Ms Gilruth, who represents Mid Fife and Glenrothes as an MSP and is now Education Secretary, asked for the works to be postponed.
Tory leader Douglas Ross formally asked the First Minister to investigate the matter after raising it in Holyrood on May 18.
On Thursday, he responded in a letter to Mr Ross, clearing Ms Gilruth of breaking the code.
The First Minister said: “I have considered this matter carefully and I am confident that it does not constitute a breach of the Scottish ministerial code.
He continued: “There is no evidence to suggest that Ms Gilruth’s constituency would have been impacted to a greater degree than any of the other constituencies.
“I am therefore satisfied that there was no impropriety and that Ms Gilruth was acting entirely legitimately in seeking advice on the network wide impact of rail works on a major piece of national infrastructure.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The First Minister considered the matter carefully and concluded that it does not constitute a breach of the Scottish ministerial code.”
The Conservatives insisted Ms Gilruth’s actions were a breach of the ministerial code.
Mr Ross said: “This response is shamefully weak from Humza Yousaf. This investigation from the First Minister is a total whitewash.
“Any impartial assessment can clearly see that Jenny Gilruth breached the ministerial code.
“That states that ministers should not be involved in decisions which affect their constituency, but Humza Yousaf has totally ignored this.
“Despite struggling to answer questions over her actions when I pressed him at FMQs, he’s now rowed in full square behind one of his key Cabinet ministers.
“Less than three months into the job, Humza Yousaf is showing time and time again he’s incapable of taking tough decisions against his colleagues when they are clearly in the wrong.”