Steerpike

Well, well, well. Just when the Scottish government thought it had steadied the SNP ship after two rather tumultuous years, another scandal has hit the party. Health Secretary Neil Gray is in the spotlight after it transpired that he had been using taxpayer-funded ministerial cars to take him to sports matches in the latest 'Limogate' development. Gray had initially claimed he attended matches in a work capacity and had minutes for every meeting – but this evening the SNP minister has now admitted to inadvertently misleading MSPs over the matter. Between 2022 and 2024, Gray attended nine football matches involving Aberdeen or Scotland using taxpayer-funded, chauffeur-driven cars.

Back to Scotland, where SNP health secretary Neil Gray is in the spotlight over some rather curious expense claims. The nationalist minister has come under fire after it emerged that he had been using ministerial cars to take him to sports matches – and now further questions are being raised about just how justified these trips were. Between 2022 and 2024, Gray attended nine football matches involving Aberdeen or Scotland using taxpayer-funded, chauffeur-driven cars. The SNP health secretary declared his excursions in line with official guidance, logging two of the games as meetings with the Scottish Football Association on the ‘social impact’ of sports investment while the other two were simply listed under ‘sport’.

They do say you shouldn’t take anything for granted and it seems Peter Mandelson is beginning to realise that too. He may have thought that his new appointment as UK ambassador to the US was set in stone – but it has emerged that the president-elect is considering, um, rejecting Sir Keir Starmer’s nominee. Ouch.  As first reported by the Independent, it transpires that the Trump team says it isn’t certain that Mandelson will be accepted by the Republican leader after he becomes president. For a nominee to officially take on the role, the country’s head of state has to accept the ‘letters of credence’ – and on this, Trump may be dithering. Officials at the White House have, according to the Times, admitted they are concerned about the choice for ambassador.

Hapless Humza Yousaf has a lot more time on his hands after he was forced to quit as Scotland's First Minister last year. Now it transpires that the former FM has enjoyed a sit down – and photoshoot – with Grazia Pakistan's Beauty Editor to recount his brief stint in the top job. After his fall from grace in April last year, Mr S isn't surprised the former Scottish leader is itching for a return to the limelight. Dotted among multiple pictures of Yousaf modelling various stately poses is the ex-FM's interview. The SNP MSP discusses everything from his political awakening, why he was drawn to the pro-indy movement and his time in the top job. Yousaf did, rather curiously, omit the part where he was forced to resign after rather abruptly ending the SNP's coalition with the Greens.

In her first big speech of the year, Kemi Badenoch has taken a pop at Chancellor Rachel Reeves, reiterated her calls for a national inquiry into the grooming gang scandal and hit out at Britain's immigration figures. Mr S was rather interested, however, in what the Tory leader said about Reform UK. Speaking in London today, Badenoch was quizzed on whether her party could merge with the increasingly popular Farage-founded party ahead of the 2029 general election. The Tory leader hit out at the idea, remarking to her audience: 'Nigel Farage says he wants to destroy the Conservative Party. Why on earth would we merge with that?' She added about the rival party's leader: Nigel Farage has been knocking around for 20 plus years.

The Labour government is generating its fair share of negative headlines these days – and now the focus is on the new Attorney General, Lord Hermer. As Mr S pointed out in summer, Sir Keir Starmer's appointee has held some rather, er, interesting roles in the past – including representing ex-Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams only last year. The Irish republican – who has always denied being in the Irish Republican Army, despite numerous books detailing his involvement in its Army Council – is back making British headlines today after it emerged that, due to planned changes to Troubles-related legislation, the former politician could receive a government pay-out over his internment in Maze prison in the 1970s.