Tories brand Neil Gray ‘Matheson mark two’ after one year as Health Secretary

The Conservatives have branded Health Secretary Neil Gray “Michael Matheson mark two”, a year on from his appointment to the role.

Gray took over on February 8 2024, as then-first minister Humza Yousaf reshuffled his cabinet in the wake of Matheson’s resignation.

Earlier this month a Tory amendment which called for Gray to resign was defeated at Holyrood with 68 votes opposed and 51 in favour.

Opposition parties have attacked him over NHS winter pressures, waiting lists and his use of government cars to attend meetings at football matches.

However First Minister John Swinney has said the Health Secretary has his confidence and considers the football matter “closed” following parliamentary apologies from Gray.

Michael Matheson quit last year PA Media

The Conservatives used the one-year milestone to renew their attacks on the SNP minister and call for him to go.

Health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “Neil Gray’s year as health secretary has been a roll call of failure.

“He is Michael Matheson mark two – another out-of-his-depth SNP health secretary too distracted by personal scandal to tackle the crisis in our NHS.

“Patients and frontline staff deserve better yet, during Neil Gray’s year in post, things have got even worse by virtually every measurement.

“Record numbers of Scots – one in six – are languishing on an NHS waiting list and more than 2,300 patients are estimated to have died needlessly because of appalling A&E waiting times.”

He added: “Neil Gray is a lame duck health secretary who has already been undermined by John Swinney.

“Like Michael Matheson, he should resign.”

Gray’s predecessor quit after months of pressure around an £11,000 iPad roaming bill from a holiday to Morocco.

Matheson initially insisted there had been no personal use of the device, but later told MSPs his sons had used it as a hotspot so they could watch football during the trip.

A spokesperson for Gray said: “The Health Secretary, working closely with the First Minister, has been deeply engaged in understanding how we can improve performance and access to our NHS – and we have set out clear plans to bring down waiting times, make it easier to see your GP and harness new technology for a healthier population.

“Meanwhile the only plans the Tories have produced involve slashing spending on services like the NHS in order to cut taxes for the rich, dragging Scotland out of the EU which has made it harder to recruit staff, and trying to block the SNP budget which will deliver £2 billion of extra investment in health.

“We’ll leave the Tories to get on with their childish political attacks – we’ll get on with delivering on the priorities of the people of Scotland, including improving the performance of our health service.”