IPad Minister 'has a right' to £12k payoff

Gray hails predecessor's 'incredible public service'

- PAUL HUTCHEON

SCOTLAND'S new Health Secretary has said shamed has a Michael Matheson "right" to a £12,000 golden goodbye payment.

Neil Gray said it was up to Matheson whether to pocket a payment after he quit over the £11,000 data roaming scandal on his Holyrood iPad.

As the Record revealed, Matheson resigned from the S cott i sh Government on Thursday after months of scrutiny over the controversy.

The SNP politician racked up the charges on holiday in Morocco over Christmas 2022, later conceding his sons had used the device to watch football.

He initially claimed the hefty bill on expenses, saying the device had only been used for parliamentary work, before repaying the cash. Despite resigning in disgrace, he is entitled to a severance payment worth more than the roaming bill.