Grooming gang row ‘could have been handled better’ – Constance

Scotland’s justice secretary has conceded a row over her comments about a grooming gangs expert “could have been handled better”.

Last week it emerged Angela Constance’s remarks about Prof Alexis Jay are to be independently investigated to determine if they breached the ministerial code.

Constance survived a vote of no confidence at Holyrood earlier this month after opponents alleged she had failed to correct the record.

Opposition politicians said her position was untenable but the SNP minister insisted all of her actions had been in good faith.

The controversy dates back to a debate in September when Constance told parliament that Prof Jay – who is overseeing a review of the evidence on grooming gangs in Scotland – did not support further grooming gang inquiries.

However, Prof Jay later clarified that her remarks did not refer to inquiries in Scotland.

Last week the Scottish government’s independent advisers notified First Minister John Swinney that they wish to launch an investigation into Constance.

In a statement, the Scottish government said it expected to probe to be concluded in a “timely manner”.

Asked by BBC Scotland News if the controversy could have been handled better, Constance replied: “I always accept that things could have been handled better.

“At the end of the day, we are all human.

“All of my actions have been in good faith.”

The minister added that the last thing she wanted was “dedicated professionals” to be dragged into a “political dispute”.

Constance was also asked if she was confident she would survive the investigation.

She replied: “I am confident in fair and due process.

“The independent advisers have a job to do without fear or favour.

“I’m not going to say much more than that because the last thing I would want is for anything that I say to be perceived as trying to influence the outcome.”

Constance made the comments about Prof Jay when she opposed a Conservative amendment to a victims bill, which called for an inquiry into grooming gangs.

Emails released by the government later showed Prof Jay clarified that she made the comment “in the context of the England and Wales Public Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse,” which she chaired.

Prof Jay wrote: “It had nothing to do with [the Conservative] amendment, or the position in Scotland, as could be interpreted from your statement.”

She said Scottish ministers should instead collect “reliable data” on the issue and clarify her position.

Constance apologised to Prof Jay at a meeting of Holyrood’s education committee over the matter.

A clarification was issued in meeting notes last month, but not in the Holyrood Chamber, which means it was not noted in the official parliamentary record.

Opponents initially called for Constance to stand down, then for Swinney to sack her – however the first minister backed his colleague.

A no confidence vote was brought by the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour but was defeated as the Scottish Greens sided with SNP MSPs.

Constance has since publicly apologised.

The minister told its convener, Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Ross, she did not believe it constituted a breach of the ministerial code.

She said she made an initial apology in a “personal” telephone conversation with the academic.

But the committee heard no government officials were present on the call.

Opposition parties later wrote to the independent advisers to ask for an investigation to be opened.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay accused the first minister of “defending the indefensible”.

And Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the investigation called Swinney’s “lack of judgement” into question.