Politics · United Kingdom · 5 hrs ago
Swinney will not face probe over pension comments to Holyrood
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney will not be investigated over claims that he misled the Scottish Parliament, known as Holyrood.
The claims followed remarks on 6 October, when he said people would “lose their pensions” under a UK government plan to change how state pensions rise.
Swinney said he meant pensioners could lose an estimated £2,000 in real terms compared with keeping the current system.
That system, called the triple lock, raises the state pension each year by the highest of inflation, average wage growth or 2.5%.
Russell Findlay, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, accused Swinney of misleading parliament and called for him to correct the record.
Independent advisers who oversee the ministerial code decided no investigation was needed, and Swinney said he considered the matter closed.
Findlay continued to say Swinney should set the record straight.
John Swinney will not be investigated over allegations that he misled the Scottish Parliament about pension changes.
Independent advisers decided that no investigation was required after Swinney referred himself to them.
The dispute followed his claim at first minister’s questions that people would “lose their pensions” if UK plans to reform the triple lock went ahead.
Swinney said the estimated loss to pensioners was £2,000 in real terms compared with the triple lock remaining in place.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said Swinney misled Parliament and urged him to correct the record.
- Who
- Scottish First Minister John Swinney and independent advisers on the ministerial code.
- What
- Swinney will not face an investigation over allegations that he misled Parliament in comments about pensions.
- When
- The exchange took place on 6 October. The decision date is not stated.
- Where
- At first minister’s questions in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.
- Why
- The advisers determined that no investigation was required after Swinney referred himself to them.
John Swinney
Russell Findlay
Swinney’s comments
John Swinney
Swinney said he had been “unambiguously clear” that the estimated loss was £2,000 in real terms compared with the triple lock remaining in place.
Russell Findlay
Findlay said Swinney misled Parliament and described his claims as “peddling flagrant misinformation”.
What should happen next
John Swinney
Swinney said he considered the matter closed after advisers decided no investigation was required.
Russell Findlay
Findlay urged Swinney to set the record straight.
Swinney said during first minister’s questions that people would “lose their pensions” under the UK government’s proposed triple-lock reform.
Swinney referred himself to the independent advisers on the ministerial code.
The advisers determined that no investigation was required.
- Estimated pension loss
- £2,000 in real terms compared with the triple lock remaining in place
- Triple lock introduced
- 2011
- Advisory panel
- Claire Loftus, Sir John Manzoni and Sir Ernest Ryder
- Swinney’s Holyrood remarks
- 6 October
What people are saying
We have been taken out of the European Union and we are now going to lose our pensions.
John Swinney misled Parliament and he knows it.
Sources
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