Matheson tells MSPs he wanted to protect family

       Scotland’s health secretary Michael Matheson has quit his role after weeks of fury around an enormous ￡11,000 roaming charges Bill racked up on holiday.

       Mr Matheson ran up the whopping ￡10,935.74 bill during a family trip to Morocco, before insisting the data had been used for conducting constituency business.

       The MSP agreed to contribute ￡3,000 of the Bill from his office expenses, while the Scottish Parliament agreed to pay the remainder.

       It was only later that he confessed his sons had used the iPad and its data as an internet hotspot to livestream football matches.

       His shock decision to quit today, plunging hapless Humza Yousaf into yet another row, comes ahead of a parliamentary investigation into the scandal, which will reportedly include further damaging facts about his conduct.

       READ MORE: What was SNP minister doing to run-up ￡8000 iPad roaming charge in ONE day?

       Stay up-to-date with the latest Politics news Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info

       Mr Matheson's resignation is Mr Yousaf's second departure of the week (Image: Getty)

       He says he is still yet to receive the results of the probe, however.

       In a resignation letter to the SNP First Minister, Mr Matheson said: “It is in the best interest of myself and the government for me to now step down to ensure this does not become a distraction to taking forward the government’s agenda”.

       Accepting his Health Secretary’s resignation, Mr Yousaf replied: “It is right that, having requested that the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body review your data roaming charges from last year, that you fully engage with that process as it comes to its conclusion”.

       “I agree that it is therefore best for you to now step down to ensure you are able to give the Parliamentary process the attention it deserves without it becoming a distraction to taking forward the Government’s agenda.”

       Don't miss...

       Starmer's 15 biggest U-turns from ￡28bn green pledge to Brexit and Lords reform [LATEST]

       Andrew Neil ‘expecting’ Ed Miliband resignation ahead of Labour's ￡28bn U-turn [LATEST]

       Remoaner Alastair Campbell mocked after doubting if we'd 'want to be' in EU [LATEST]

       Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading

       Start 30-day

       FREE trial

       Mr Matheson said he is resigning to avoid becoming a distraction for the Government (Image: Getty)

       Labour deputy Scottish leader Jackie Baillie said that while she welcomes the resignation, it leaves Mr Yousaf with “big questions to answer over his lack of judgement”.

       “While our NHS is in crisis, Humza Yousaf has shown his weakness by putting the SNP before our NHS. Now more than ever we need a health minister focused on the crisis at hand.

       “It’s clear that the First Minister has no plan to save our NHS and that shuffling the SNP deckchairs will make no difference – it’s time for change.”

       Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr said the resignation is “an utter humiliation for Humza Yousaf”.

       “It shows again the terrible judgement of the First Minister. This cannot be allowed to continue.”

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Rachel Reeves squirms as BBC host skewers her over screeching Labour U-turn

       452 Comments

       'That's why she cried!' Andrew Neil tears apart Nicola Sturgeon over 'cover-up'

       560 Comments

       Humza Yousaf under fire as SNP allows civil servants to work abroad for 28 days each year

       84 Comments

       EU ripped apart by Elon Musk after it mulls Carlson 'travel ban' for Putin interview

       131 Comments

       SNP's 'true, rotten colours' exposed by two key findings at Covid inquiry

       656 Comments

       'Didn't believe her for a minute!' Top Tory savages Nicola Sturgeon over Covid tears

       73 Comments

       Rishi Sunak lashes back at Labour's 'dirty tricks'

       213 Comments

       Keir Starmer told ‘no Labour seat is safe' as Tories make gain in council by-election

       1274 Comments

       Prince William set to hire peacekeeper as his new right-hand man

       5 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon torn apart by Question Time audience member in brutal inquiry takedown

       361 Comments

       Piers Morgan breaks silence after Prince Harry calls for police investigation

       1160 Comments

       'It's impossible to make mobile calls in our beautiful UK village - we've had enough!'

       141 Comments

       Rishi Sunak makes bold tax cut pledge as he's 'totally up for the fight'

       207 Comments

       Tories urged to bring Boris Johnson back for 'game-changing' general election campaign

       153 Comments

       Humza Yousaf expected to pick hated rival Kate Forbes for top job as SNP run out of talent

       80 Comments

       Humza Yousaf accused of carrying on Nicola Sturgeon's 'addiction to cover-up and secrecy'

       38 Comments

       Humza Yousaf skewered over Scottish independence after fresh Brexit swipe

       362 Comments

       British tourists warned of more travel chaos at busy UK airport ahead of summer

       Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon to face major Covid inquiry grilling today after bombshell claims emerge

       972 Comments

       Private tenants ‘face big rent rises and mass evictions' from April

       20 Comments

       Rachel Reeves squirms as BBC host skewers her over screeching Labour U-turn

       452 Comments

       'That's why she cried!' Andrew Neil tears apart Nicola Sturgeon over 'cover-up'

       560 Comments

       Humza Yousaf under fire as SNP allows civil servants to work abroad for 28 days each year

       84 Comments

       EU ripped apart by Elon Musk after it mulls Carlson 'travel ban' for Putin interview

       131 Comments

       SNP's 'true, rotten colours' exposed by two key findings at Covid inquiry

       656 Comments

       'Didn't believe her for a minute!' Top Tory savages Nicola Sturgeon over Covid tears

       73 Comments

       Rishi Sunak lashes back at Labour's 'dirty tricks'

       213 Comments

       Keir Starmer told ‘no Labour seat is safe' as Tories make gain in council by-election

       1274 Comments

       Prince William set to hire peacekeeper as his new right-hand man

       5 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon torn apart by Question Time audience member in brutal inquiry takedown

       361 Comments

       Piers Morgan breaks silence after Prince Harry calls for police investigation

       1160 Comments

       'It's impossible to make mobile calls in our beautiful UK village - we've had enough!'

       141 Comments

       Rishi Sunak makes bold tax cut pledge as he's 'totally up for the fight'

       207 Comments

       Tories urged to bring Boris Johnson back for 'game-changing' general election campaign

       153 Comments

       Humza Yousaf expected to pick hated rival Kate Forbes for top job as SNP run out of talent

       80 Comments

       Humza Yousaf accused of carrying on Nicola Sturgeon's 'addiction to cover-up and secrecy'

       38 Comments

       Humza Yousaf skewered over Scottish independence after fresh Brexit swipe

       362 Comments

       British tourists warned of more travel chaos at busy UK airport ahead of summer

       Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon to face major Covid inquiry grilling today after bombshell claims emerge

       972 Comments

       Private tenants ‘face big rent rises and mass evictions' from April

       20 Comments

       Rachel Reeves squirms as BBC host skewers her over screeching Labour U-turn

       452 Comments

       'That's why she cried!' Andrew Neil tears apart Nicola Sturgeon over 'cover-up'

       560 Comments

       Humza Yousaf under fire as SNP allows civil servants to work abroad for 28 days each year

       84 Comments

       EU ripped apart by Elon Musk after it mulls Carlson 'travel ban' for Putin interview

       131 Comments

       SNP's 'true, rotten colours' exposed by two key findings at Covid inquiry

       656 Comments

       'Didn't believe her for a minute!' Top Tory savages Nicola Sturgeon over Covid tears

       73 Comments

       Rishi Sunak lashes back at Labour's 'dirty tricks'

       213 Comments

       Trending

       The ￡118,511-a-year minister paid the money back from his own pocket in November, two days after the Telegraph revealed the scandal.

       It also emerged he misled the media when claiming nobody other than him had used the device, nor had there been any personal use.

       Mr Matheson’s resignation is Humza Yousaf’s second Government departure of the week, after drugs minister quit two days ago citing “post-traumatic stress”.

       Related articles Liz Truss's big launch proved Farage is the only 'popular conservative' in town Odds of Reform UK pulling off by-election victory suddenly slashed Keir Starmer 'running scared' of anti-Israel mob as he pulls out of event MPs demand Archbishop to face questions over Church's illegal migrant scandal Lee Anderson's savage swipe at Labour's Lords U-turn as decision explained