Scottish Health Secretary to Repay £11,000 Data Roaming Bill from Moroccan Holiday
Michael Matheson’s £11k Data Roaming Nightmare
Scotland’s Health Secretary, Michael Matheson, is set to cough up nearly £11,000 after rake data roaming charges piled up during his holiday in Morocco. The hefty bill was blamed on an outdated SIM card, with Matheson stressing that repaying the cash is “the right one in all circumstances.” He also admitted the SIM should have been swapped out much earlier.
Bill Battle Ends with Personal Contribution
Attempts to get the charges waived hit a brick wall when the telecom company refused to budge. Initially, Matheson offered to cover £3,000 himself, leaving the rest for the Scottish Parliament’s pocket.
From Energy Boss to Health Chief Amid Controversy
When the roaming fiasco happened, Matheson was Nicola Sturgeon’s net zero, energy, and transport secretary. Since then, he’s been promoted to Health Secretary under Humza Yousaf, marking a major career shuffle.
Labour Slams SNP Over Public Funds
Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, branded the mess “mind-boggling.” She slammed the SNP for expecting taxpayers to foot a ballooning bill, accusing them of being “out of touch” with responsible use of public money.
