John Swinney’s BBC journalist wife Elizabeth Quigley resigns on health grounds

BBC Scotland journalist Elizabeth Quigley, who is married to First Minister John Swinney, has resigned from the corporation on health grounds.

Quigley joined BBC Scotland in 1999 as the first female correspondent in the new Scottish Parliament.

She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a lifelong condition of the central nervous system that affects the brain and spinal cord, in 2000, aged just 28.

Quigley announced she has decided to leave the BBC as she revealed she has been diagnosed with pain condition trigeminal neuralgia.

Writing for the BBC, she said: “I’ve been struggling with a condition called trigeminal neuralgia that causes excruciating pain like an electric shock across the side of my face, which can stop me from speaking, eating or drinking.

“It’s not part of everyone’s life with MS, but it has recently become part of mine – and being unable to speak is not great for a broadcaster.

“Thanks to my neurologist and the NHS team looking after me, I’ve managed to regain my speech and reduce the amount of discomfort I’m in – but the pain can, and does, reappear.

“So, unfortunately, I’ve had to make the very difficult decision to leave the BBC on health grounds.”

As well as reporting from across Scotland, Quigley has made radio and television documentaries covering a variety of subjects, including MS and its links to Scotland, the first female Scottish MP, and a film about a woman whose sense of smell could help diagnose Parkinson’s.

It was not until 2007 that she announced she had been diagnosed with MS seven years previously, with Quigley saying she “couldn’t keep covering up my stumbling with excuses”.

She said: “I was initially diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS. Now, I have secondary progressive.

“The tingling in my face has largely disappeared, but my walking has become increasingly difficult over the years.

“I need crutches or a rollator – what I call my wheels – and sometimes I need a wheelchair.”

Quigley had taken a step away from political reporting long before she announced her diagnosis, following her marriage to Swinney.

The couple have been married since 2003 and have a son called Matthew who was born in 2010.

When Swinney was sworn in as First Minister following May’s election this year, Quigley stood alongside him using a crutch for support.

She said: “Far from trying to disguise my disability and cover it up, I chose to quite openly stand using a crutch on the steps of Bute House when my husband became First Minister.

“I’ve always maintained that you can live life well with MS – it might just have to be a bit differently. And my career proves that.”

In a staff note issued on Friday, BBC Scotland head of news Howard Simpson said: “On behalf of BBC Scotland, I would like to pay tribute to Elizabeth’s fortitude throughout. I have known her since I started here in 2017 and have nothing but admiration for her resolve and willingness to keep going.

“Thank you so much, Elizabeth, as we wish you all our very best – we will miss a valued friend and colleague, but we will always remember your warmth, humour, and positivity, even under the most trying of circumstances.”