Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has launched a searing attack on the SNP government, accusing it of a 'shocking arrogance' and a 'fundamental problem with accountability' following the emergence of a concealed incident involving one of its ministers.
The controversy centres around Rural Affairs Minister Mairi McAllan, who was spoken to by police officers at her home in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, several weeks ago. The incident, which involved a complaint from a neighbour, was not disclosed to the public or parliament by the Scottish Government.
A Pattern of Unaccountability
Mr Ross condemned what he sees as a established pattern of behaviour from the SNP. 'This is a government that believes the rules simply don’t apply to them,' he stated. 'The fact that a serving minister had an encounter with Police Scotland, and it was kept under wraps for weeks, is a manifest sign of their underlying issue: a complete disdain for transparency.'
The Tory leader drew direct parallels with the scandal involving former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s motorhome, which was seized by police, questioning why this latest episode was handled so differently and away from public view.
Demands for Answers from Yousaf
The revelation has sparked fury amongst opposition parties, who are now demanding full transparency. Douglas Ross has put pressure on Humza Yousaf to explain 'what he knew and when he knew it'.
'The First Minister must come to the parliament and provide a full account of this incident,' Ross insisted. 'The public has a right to know why this was not declared. It stinks of a cover-up and a government that is utterly marking its own homework.'
A Government Under Scrutiny
This incident is the latest in a series of events that opposition MSPs claim shows the SNP’s increasing detachment from proper scrutiny. The decision to withhold information about a minister's involvement with police is being framed not as an isolated error, but as a 'symptom of a much deeper cultural problem' within the ruling party.
As the pressure mounts on Humza Yousaf to address the allegations, this story threatens to further erode public trust in a government already battling perceptions of secrecy and entitlement.
