Justice Secretary Angela Constance Defends Ministerial Car Use for Old Firm Final

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has defended her decision to bring her son along in a government vehicle to the Scottish League Cup final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden on Sunday. This match took place two days before the ministerial code was revised to specify that family members should only accompany ministers in official cars when it is in the public interest, for security reasons, or in “exceptional” circumstances. The update to the code followed a controversy involving Health Secretary Neil Gray’s use of the chauffeur service to attend various fixtures. Constance stated that she is not a football enthusiast but felt obligated to attend the event due to “growing concerns” regarding the use of pyrotechnics at matches. She informed reporters that she was not “in the habit of attending sporting events,” but she participated in her capacity as justice secretary because of the “serious risk of harm” posed by pyrotechnics. The SNP minister also mentioned that it was not “uncommon” for ministers to attend events with family members. The Scottish government confirmed that Ms. Constance attended the game on official business and that her son’s presence did not incur any additional cost to the taxpayer. A spokesperson for the first minister stated that Constance engaged with the SPFL regarding the “illegal use of pyrotechnics” and “observed the policing” of the match. The first minister’s spokesperson denied that she violated any regulations, adding that the trip would not have contravened the updated ministerial code. Celtic emerged victorious in the final after a penalty shootout, following a 3-3 draw with their Glasgow rivals. Rachael Hamilton, the Scottish Conservative deputy leader, asserted that Constance — whose attendance at the game was initially reported by the Daily Record — had “learned nothing” from the Gray “scandal.” Hamilton remarked, “The public will be astonished that Angela Constance deemed it appropriate to use a ministerial car to go to the Old Firm this weekend.” She further stated, “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.” The government disclosed this week that ministers were accompanied by partners, friends, or family members at official events 49 times over the past three years. For four of these events, ministers traveled with their guests in ministerial cars. The government stated that it did not retain travel information for all other engagements. Generally, ministers are authorized to use the chauffeur service for official business and for transportation between their home and office. However, First Minister John Swinney updated the ministerial code on Tuesday, stating that close family members are only permitted to travel with a minister in an official car when it is “clearly in the public interest for them to attend an official engagement and/or where it is justified on security grounds.” The code further states that in all other circumstances, close relatives should only accompany ministers in chauffeur-driven transport “on an exceptional basis and where this does not incur any additional public expenditure or impact on the delivery of the official duties of the minister concerned.” The code also mandates that ministers should pay “special attention” to the necessity of using the chauffeur service “efficiently,” and encourages ministers to use public transport “wherever possible.” The ministerial code was updated following Gray’s apology to parliament regarding his use of a ministerial car. The Aberdeen supporter acknowledged that he should have attended a “wider range” of football matches, having used official vehicles to attend four games involving his team, in addition to five Scotland games. He stated that a family member or guest had accompanied him to six of these matches, incurring no additional cost to the taxpayer. Gray maintained that all these engagements were “official ministerial business.”