Swinney will not be investigated over claims he misled Holyrood over pensions
The First Minister said he now considered the matter closed
John Swinney will not be investigated by his independent advisers over claims he broke the ministerial code by misleading the Scottish Parliament over pensions.
The First Minister said his advisers had concluded “no investigation is required” and said he now considered the matter closed.
But opposition politicians insisted he should still “set the record straight”.
The SNP leader alerted the ethics watchdogs after facing calls to correct the official record over his claim that Scots would “lose our pensions” because of Andy Burnham’s changes to the triple lock.
Writing to presiding officer Kenneth Gibson, Mr Swinney said: “There have been a number of written requests, including correspondence from MSPs, calling for an investigation by the independent advisers on the ministerial code.
“Rather than looking at the whole FMQ [First Minister’s Questions] exchanges, these calls focused on a single sentence where I concluded, ‘We have been taken out of the European Union and we are now going to lose our pensions’.
“In line with normal processes, the independent advisers were made aware of these requests.
“They have now informed me that they have concluded that no investigation is required.”
The First Minister said he welcomed the finding, adding: “I am writing to you to be unambiguously clear that, as I set out, the loss is estimated to be £2,000 in real terms as compared to the triple lock remaining in place.
“I hope this is helpful and I now consider this matter closed.”
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay had accused Mr Swinney of “scaremongering” and said he was “peddling flagrant misinformation”.
“I hope the advisers reach the obvious conclusion that Swinney did mislead pensioners and force him to set the record straight,” he said last week.
The First Minister wrote to Mr Findlay on Monday, saying: “Further to my letter of October 5, I can advise that my advisers have now considered the matter in full, and concluded that there is nothing to investigate.
“As I have stated, I am satisfied that there has been no breach of the ministerial code, and therefore consider this issue closed.”
A spokesman for Mr Swinney previously accused opposition politicians of playing politics with the issue.
“I think it was pretty well understood what he was saying,” the spokesman said last week.
“Actually, I think people on the other side who are trying to make mischief about this, all they are doing is revealing how desperate they are, frankly, on this whole issue.
“This is yet another campaign promise made during the 2014 referendum campaign which has been completely demolished.
“Once again, people see the promises made to them if they vote to stay in the union are not worth the paper they’re written on.”
The Prime Minister announced proposals to reform the triple lock on pensions last month, meaning pensions will not rise by as much as they would have, in order to pay for social care in England.
Scotland receives money known as “Barnett consequentials” when England spends in devolved areas.
Following the latest development, Mr Findlay said: “John Swinney misled Parliament and he knows it.
“He should set the record straight instead of crowing that he has supposedly not breached the ministerial code.”
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