Grooming gangs row could have been handled better, says Constance

Angela Constance has admitted the fallout over her remarks about a grooming gangs expert “could have been handled better”.

Opposition parties have been calling for the Scottish Justice Secretary to go after accusing her of misleading MSPs by misrepresenting comments made by an expert on grooming gangs during a Holyrood debate in September.

The minister survived a no confidence vote but now faces an investigation to determine whether she broke the ministerial code.

Asked by BBC Scotland News if the row could have been handled better, she said: “I always accept that things could have been handled better.

“At the end of the day, we are all human.

“All of my actions have been in good faith.”

The minister told the broadcaster the last thing she wanted was “dedicated professionals” being dragged into a “political dispute”.

Asked if she would survive the investigation, she said: “I am confident in fair and due process.

“The independent advisers have a job to do without fear or favour.

“I’m not going to say much more than that because the last thing I would want is for anything that I say to be perceived as trying to influence the outcome.”

Last week, the Government announced the outcome of the investigation “will be published in a timely manner after the case has been decided by the First Minister”.

Mr Swinney has previously said he is “content” Ms Constance did not break the code.

Opposition parties had earlier written to the independent advisers, asking them to initiate a probe.

They raised remarks by Ms Constance during a Holyrood debate which discussed calls for an inquiry to be established into grooming gangs in Scotland.

Ms Constance had insisted then that Professor Alexis Jay agreed with her that such a probe was not needed.

However, the expert later said her comments had had “nothing to do” with the situation in Scotland.

Ms Constance previously revealed she had telephoned Prof Jay to make a “personal and direct apology” to her.

She has also said she will amend the official record of the debate in question.