Former health secretary Michael Matheson faces suspension for £11,000 iPad bill

Scotland's first minister is in trouble for not supporting a recommendation to ban Michael Matheson from Holyrood for 27 days. The decision will be voted on by MSPs. John Swinney, the first minister, thinks the process was unfair and could make the Scottish parliament look bad. He believes his colleague, Michael Matheson, did nothing wrong by paying for his roaming costs. However, Matheson had to change his story after people got upset about the bill. The first minister thinks the process was unfair because a committee member made negative comments about Matheson. This is why he won't support the punishment. The first minister also said he won't support calls for Matheson to resign. The Scottish Tory leader thinks Swinney is wrong for defending Matheson. Matheson could face a 27-day suspension from Holyrood and lose his salary for 54 days because of an £11,000 iPad bill. Matheson stepped down as health secretary in February because of the investigation. He thinks the process was unfair and too political. Matheson will accept whatever decision parliament makes. The investigation started when Matheson took the parliamentary iPad on a trip to Morocco. He didn't know his sons used it for personal reasons. Matheson initially denied this but later admitted it. He resigned to avoid distracting the government. The committee recommended a 27-day suspension and no pay for 54 days. The first minister disagreed with this decision. The committee found Matheson broke the rules by using public money improperly. The full report will be published later.