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Scotland’s Justice Secretary, Angela Constance, is anticipated to face a no-confidence vote on Tuesday amid growing criticism from opposition parties. The accusations center on claims that Constance inaccurately portrayed the position of child sexual exploitation expert Professor Alexis Jay, leading to allegations of misleading the Scottish Parliament. Tensions escalated significantly last Thursday during First Minister’s Questions, with both Labour and the Conservative parties calling for her dismissal. However, John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister, stood firmly behind Constance, affirming that Professor Jay’s views had been clarified.
Efforts by Swinney to refocus the discussion on the serious issue of child sexual exploitation did not gain traction with critics. Opponents highlighted concerns about Constance’s credibility, especially among survivors of grooming gang abuse. One alleged victim, identifying as Taylor, described the justice secretary’s position as “untenable,” intensifying the political pressure on her role. The roots of the controversy trace back to an exchange in September when Constance opposed a Conservative amendment to a victims bill seeking an inquiry into grooming gangs. At that time, she claimed that Professor Jay did not support additional inquiries into child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Further developments revealed emails from Professor Jay clarifying her stance, explaining that her comments referred specifically to the public inquiry on child sexual abuse in England and Wales, which she chaired. Jay emphasized that her previous remarks did not relate to the Conservative amendment or Scotland’s situation and expressed a desire for Scottish ministers to gather “reliable data” on the issue. While the government issued a clarification in internal meeting notes, no formal statement was made in the parliamentary chamber. Constance continues to defend the accuracy of her previous statements, though critics accuse her of breaching the ministerial code by failing to correct the official record publicly.
A motion of no confidence initiated by the Conservatives has gained enough support to proceed to debate, and Scottish Labour has submitted its own motion. Labour sought to rally the Liberal Democrats and other parties in backing the motion; the Liberal Democrats have joined Labour and the Conservatives, while the Greens have pledged their support to the government, viewing the dispute as a distraction from addressing child sexual exploitation. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar argues that supporting Constance would send the wrong message about integrity in government, while Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton states that Constance’s loss of trust among victims alone is grounds for her departure. Despite the criticism, Constance enjoys the backing of both the First Minister and her cabinet colleagues, and although she is expected to survive the no-confidence vote, the proceedings are likely to be challenging.
The broader debate over whether Scotland should hold a public inquiry into grooming gangs continues amid ministerial resistance, with officials claiming the evidence does not yet justify such an inquiry. Nonetheless, emails from Professor Jay indicate her belief in the urgent need for action, and she has agreed to lead a national review on the matter. Scheduled to appear before the Scottish Parliament’s education committee on Wednesday, Jay’s testimony will be closely watched as it offers an opportunity to scrutinize Constance’s representation of her views and to shed light on the scale of child abuse in Scotland. The committee convener, Conservative MSP Douglas Ross, who has faced criticism from SNP members regarding the timing of the hearing, insists that victims require prompt answers. Alongside Jay, Justice Secretary Constance will also attend the committee meeting, with the extent of her questioning largely dependent on Jay’s statements.
On the same day, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth is set to present new government measures to tackle child abuse. Ministers hope that by the time parliament reconvenes in the new year, focus will shift away from questions about Constance’s future. However, opposition parties appear poised to keep the pressure on as debates over child sexual exploitation and political accountability continue to unfold
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