John Swinney praises wife Elizabeth Quigley as she announces resignation from BBC on health grounds
Former Scotsman journalist Elizabeth Quigley was diagnosed with MS in 2000
First Minster John Swinney has heaped praise on is wife - journalist Elizabeth Quigley - after she announced her resignation from the BBC on health grounds.
Ms Quigley joined BBC Scotland in 1999 as the first female correspondent at the new Scottish Parliament. She previously worked for The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Scottish Daily Mail.
She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2000 at the age of just 28. MS is a lifelong condition affecting the central nervous system including the brain and the spinal cord. Ms Quigley has now revealed she has also been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia.
Mr Swinney said: “She has had a magnificent career as a journalist, in print and in broadcasting and it has been very difficult for her to come to this conclusion.”
But he added that after she made her decision to step down the “level of stress in her life has declined” and he had seen her “gaining in strength”, adding that this “has been lovely to see”.
The First Minister said: “She’s a magnificent journalist, but she is above all else a very courageous and principled person of integrity.
“It’s been difficult to come to this conclusion but it is the right conclusion for her to come to.”
Ms Quigley said: “I’ve been struggling with a condition called trigeminal neuralgia that causes excruciating pain like an electric shock across the side of my face, which can stop me from speaking, eating or drinking.
“It’s not part of everyone’s life with MS but it has recently become part of mine - and being unable to speak is not great for a broadcaster.
“Thanks to my neurologist and the NHS team looking after me, I’ve managed to regain my speech and reduce the amount of discomfort I’m in - but the pain can, and does, reappear.
“So unfortunately, I’ve had to make the very difficult decision to leave the BBC on health grounds.”
Ms Quigley revealed she had MS in 2007, seven years after she was first diagnosed, saying she “couldn’t keep covering up my stumbling with excuses”.
She added: “I was initially diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS. Now, I have secondary progressive.
“The tingling in my face has largely disappeared, but my walking has become increasingly difficult over the years.
“I need crutches or a rollator - what I call my wheels - and sometimes I need a wheelchair.”
Ms Quigley has been married to the First Minister since 2003 and the couple have a son called Matthew who was born in 2010. Following her marriage to Mr Swinney, Ms Quigley stepped away from political reporting.
When Mr Swinney was sworn in as First Minister following May’s election, Ms Quigley stood beside him on the steps of Bute House while using a crutch for support.
She said: “Far from trying to disguise my disability and cover it up, I chose to quite openly stand using a crutch on the steps of Bute House when my husband became First Minister.
“I’ve always maintained that you can live life well with MS - it might just have to be a bit differently, and my career proves that.”
A note was issued to staff on Friday from Howard Simpson, BBC Scotland’s head of news. It said: “Thank you so much Elizabeth as we wish you all our very best - we will miss a valued friend and colleague but we will always remember your warmth, humour, and positivity, even under the most trying of circumstances.”
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