Scottish ministers subject to complaints to be named

Ministers subject to complaints are to be named after investigations are completed, following a change to the Scottish Ministerial Code.

First Minister Humza Yousaf said the revisions will set the “highest standards of propriety and transparency” for ministers.

The change means complaints made by civil servants about ministers and former ministers will be made public, including the minister’s name and the outcome of the complaint procedure.

It comes after Yousaf said earlier this year he would look into whether he could release a report into bullying allegations against former minister Fergus Ewing.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon previously refused to release the findings of the investigation, citing legal restrictions.

Ewing was accused of bullying civil servants in 2019 when he was rural economy secretary, though he has denied any such behaviour.

Other changes to the ministerial code will see an annual review of private interests, including publication, and extra detail on managing possible conflict of interests between ministerial responsibilities and local constituency issues.

Yousaf said: “This new edition of the ministerial code sets the highest standards of propriety and transparency for government ministers.

“All Scottish ministers, including myself, are bound by its terms and are committed to uphold the principles of public life, ensuring integrity, accountability and honesty at every level of leadership.”

The first review of private interests will be published in the next parliamentary session.