Constance and family member ‘driven to Old Firm cup final in Government car’

Justice Secretary Angela Constance travelled with a close family member in a ministerial car to the Old Firm league cup final on Sunday, it has been reported.

It comes after Health Secretary Neil Gray received criticism for being chauffeured to a series of football matches involving the team he supports, Aberdeen.

Mr Gray apologised in Parliament after admitting he had given the impression of “acting more as a fan and less as a minister”, and said he should have “attended a wider range of games”.

The Daily Record reported Ms Constance and a relative attended the game as guests of the Scottish Professional Football League, with the SPFL discussing the need for an increased use of football banning orders with the Justice Secretary.

A spokesman for the First Minister did not deny to journalists on Thursday that the family member who attended the game was Ms Constance’s son.

The Conservatives said Ms Constance’s journey shows the Government has “learned nothing” from Mr Gray’s apology.

On Tuesday, a new version of the ministerial code was published.

It encourages ministers to use public transport “where practicable” and said close family members can only use official cars on an “exceptional basis”.

However it said family members can use ministerial cars where it is “clearly in the public interest”.

Sunday’s match at Hampden saw Celtic defeat Rangers in a penalty shootout.

The revised ministerial code came into effect on Tuesday, meaning Ms Constance’s journey would have been covered by a previous version of the code.

Speaking to journalists as she left the Holyrood chamber after First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Ms Constance said: “The invitation was extended to me as Justice Secretary.

“I’m not known as a football fan, I’m not a follower of football, but I did feel compelled to attend this particular match.”

She said she wanted to go to Sunday’s final because of the increasing use of pyrotechnic devices such as flares at football matches.

Asked why she took a member of her family with her, Ms Constance said: “It’s not uncommon for either ministers or MSPs to attend engagements, whether it’s in their own constituency or elsewhere, accompanied by a family member.

“As I say, it’s not something that I am in the habit of attending, I’m not in the habit of attending sporting events, but given my capacity as Justice Secretary and the serious risk of harm both to members of the public and to those law-abiding football fans who attend.

“My focus, if you don’t mind, is to focus on the work that I intend to follow through and we will keep you posted.”

A Scottish Government spokesman told the newspaper: “The Justice Secretary attended Sunday’s match for official Government business.

“During the engagement, she discussed with the SPFL the continued efforts to tackle the illegal use of pyrotechnics at football matches and observed the policing of such sporting events.”

Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: “The public will be astonished that Angela Constance deemed it appropriate to use a ministerial car to go to the Old Firm this weekend.

“Clearly she has learned nothing from how angry the public feel about Neil Gray’s ‘limogate’ scandal where he charged the taxpayer to watch his favourite team, Aberdeen.

“It’s no wonder public trust in politicians is at an all-time low when senior SNP figures are using taxpayer-funded limos to take family members to football matches, all under the flimsy pretence of ministerial duties.”