JUSTICE Secretary Angela Constance has spoken out after it was reported she travelled with a close family member in a ministerial car to the Old Firm league cup final on Sunday.
The Daily Record reported Constance and a relative attended the game as guests of the Scottish Professional Football League, with the SPFL discussing the need for an increased use of football banning orders with the Justice Secretary.
It comes after Health Secretary Neil Gray received criticism for being chauffeured to a series of football matches involving the team he supports, Aberdeen.
Gray apologised in Parliament after admitting he had given the impression of “acting more as a fan and less as a minister”, and said he should have “attended a wider range of games”.
Speaking to journalists in Holyrood on Thursday, Constance defended her attendance and shared she felt "compelled" to attend amid the increasing use of pyrotechnics at matches.
Constance said: “The invitation was extended to me as Justice Secretary. I’m not known as a football fan, I’m not a follower of football, but I did feel compelled to attend this particular football match, bearing in mind the growing concerns we have about the use of pyrotechnics within our communities, but also within football stadiums.
“I can assure you that my attendance and discussions, extensive discussions with the SPFL were instructive. Unfortunately, there was demonstrable use of pyrotechnics at the match - completely unacceptable. And what I’m now focused on is the work that I will follow through.”
When asked why she brought a family member, Constance said: “It’s not uncommon for either ministers or MSPs to attend engagements, whether it’s in their own constituency or elsewhere, accompanied by a family member. That has been the case.
“As I said, it’s not something that I am in the habit of attending. I’m not in the habit of attending sporting events. But given my capacity as justice secretary and the serious risk of harm both to members of the public and indeed to those law abiding football fans [I attended].”
On Tuesday, a new version of the ministerial code was published.
It encourages ministers to use public transport “where practicable” and said close family members can only use official cars on an “exceptional basis”.
However, it said family members can use ministerial cars where it is “clearly in the public interest”.
The revised ministerial code came into effect on Tuesday, meaning Constance’s journey would have been covered by a previous version of the code.
A Scottish Government spokesman told the newspaper: “The Justice Secretary attended Sunday’s match for official Government business.
“During the engagement, she discussed with the SPFL the continued efforts to tackle the illegal use of pyrotechnics at football matches and observed the policing of such sporting events.”
