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Angela Constance, Scotland’s justice secretary, is currently facing an investigation to determine if she breached the ministerial code regarding her comments about a grooming gangs expert. The controversy arose after Constance was accused of misrepresenting the views of Professor Alexis Jay concerning public inquiries into child sexual abuse and exploitation, leading to allegations that she misled the Scottish Parliament. Constance had stated that Prof Jay did not support additional inquiries, but Prof Jay later clarified that her comments were specific to inquiries in England and Wales, not Scotland. Although Constance survived a no-confidence vote last week, critics claimed she failed to correct the record.
The Scottish government’s independent advisers have now informed First Minister John Swinney of their intention to launch a formal inquiry into Constance’s conduct. The government has emphasized that the investigation will be completed “in a timely manner.” This step marks the first time the advisers have initiated an investigation independently since rules were amended in December, allowing them to act without a direct referral from the first minister. Ultimately, the decision on whether Constance remains in her ministerial role lies with Swinney.
Constance’s remarks came during her opposition to a Conservative amendment to a victims bill, which sought to establish an inquiry into grooming gangs. Subsequent emails released by the government revealed that Prof Jay had clarified the context of her original statement, explaining that it related only to the Public Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales that she chaired. She emphasized that her comments did not pertain to the amendment or the situation in Scotland. Prof Jay recommended that Scottish officials focus on gathering reliable data on the issue. Constance apologized to the professor last week for the confusion.
The initial clarification was made in meeting notes but was not recorded in the official parliamentary record, which fueled calls for Constance to resign or be dismissed. Despite this, First Minister Swinney defended his cabinet member, and the no-confidence vote proposed by Scottish Conservatives and Labour was defeated due to support from the Scottish Greens. Following the vote, Constance apologized publicly to Prof Jay in a parliamentary committee but maintained that her comments had been accurate. Opposition parties have pushed for a full inquiry by writing to the independent advisers. The investigation now tests both Constance’s position and Swinney’s judgment in handling the matter
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