John Swinney defends Justice Secretary Angela Constance amid controversy over child sexual abuse inquiry comments
John Swinney has defended Justice Secretary Angela Constance following calls for her resignation over allegations that she misrepresented Professor Alexis Jay's views on further inquiries into child sexual abuse and grooming gangs.
Opposition parties, including the Conservatives, Labour, and Liberal Democrats, have backed no-confidence motions against Constance, accusing her of misrepresenting Professor Jay's stance. Swinney himself has been criticized for not correcting the record promptly.
Government-released emails reveal that Professor Jay clarified her comments referred specifically to the England and Wales Public Inquiry and did not pertain to Scotland or amendments proposed by the Conservative Party. Jay also advocates for improved data collection on organized child sexual exploitation.
Constance maintains her comments were accurate, though Liberal Democrats have called for her to apologize. Tory leader Findlay has stated that Constance misrepresented Jay and has not apologized for it.
Swinney responded that Constance's quote was a general comment made during the Victims Bill debate. He indicated that the government intends to continue essential work to determine whether a separate inquiry into grooming gangs is necessary, and no breach of the ministerial code has been found.
First Minister Humza Yousaf emphasized that the objective is not to hinder the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. He noted that issues related to grooming gangs could be addressed in a future phase, and that an expert panel led by Professor Jay oversees this process.
A national review of grooming gangs in Scotland will be conducted by the Care Inspectorate, Inspectorate of Constabulary and Education, and Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Professor Jay chairs the expert panel advising ministers on the review's outcome and on whether to establish a judge-led inquiry.
The UK government has previously accepted recommendations for a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation in England and Wales, which provides a broader context to the ongoing Scottish debate.
