Angela Constance facing no confidence vote as pressure mounts on 'untrustworthy' justice secretary

Ms Constance has vowed to stay on as justice secretary and confirmed she has not offered her resignation but is facing a crunch Holyrood vote over her future.

The Scottish Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems intend to vote in favour of the no confidence motion, but the Greens have confirmed to The Scotsman that “will not back it”, meaning it will almost-certainly fail.

The First Minister has suggested he will not be referring the case to his independent advisers on the ministerial code, who were last year given the power to initiate their own investigations, meaning Ms Constance could still face action.

The Almond Valley MSP, who sat behind Mr Swinney in the Holyrood chamber at First Minister's Questions, has been accused of misrepresenting the views of grooming gangs expert Professor Alexis Jay during the Victims Bill debate in September.

The justice secretary, during the debate, spoke out against an amendment by Conservative MSP Liam Kerr that attempted to establish an inquiry into grooming gangs, to be led by the newly-established victims commissioner.

Ms Constance told MSPs that Professor Alexis Jay, who led a public inquiry into the issue in England and Wales, “shares my view and has put on the record and stated to the media that she does not support further inquiries into child sexual abuse and exploitation”.

But correspondence shows the quote was taken out of context by Ms Constance, with Prof Jay also calling on the justice secretary to correct the record.

Mr Swinney has defended his senior minister and ally, claiming “the justice secretary was making a general comment in the Victims and Witnesses Bill”.

READ MORE: John Swinney told to sack Angela Constance after 'shocking' grooming gangs emails revealed

But Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay insisted Ms Constance “wasn’t making a general point”.

He added: “She twisted a statement about England to deny victims an inquiry here in Scotland.

“Professor Jay then asked her to correct this falsehood on September 26, but she didn't, and she still hasn't done so.”

Mr Findlay told MSPs he has met a grooming gang victim named Taylor and her mother, who have also met Mr Swinney.

“They along with other victims, have lost all trust in Angela Constance”, Mr Findlay said.

He added: “John Swinney is continuing to defend a justice secretary who misrepresented an expert, misled parliament, misled the public and misled victims.

“Everyone in this chamber, no matter their politics, should expect honesty from government ministers, and if mistakes are made, they should at least be corrected.

“If John Swinney won't sack the justice secretary, we will give parliament the chance to have its say with a vote of no confidence. So will the First Minister order his MSPs to support his failing Justice Secretary?”

READ MORE: How much trouble is Angela Constance in and how likely is it she will be forced out?

The First Minister later told journalists he still has confidence in the justice secretary and is “satisfied” at how the situation has been handled. But opposition MSPs are poised to bring a vote of no confidence against Ms Constance, likely to take place next week.

When asked if he was worried about the impending vote of no confidence, Mr Swinney said: “Obviously parliament has got to consider these issues but parliament should recognise the fact this is an incredibly hard working justice secretary who is dealing with multiple sensitive issues and does that really well.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has also lodged a vote of no confidence in the justice secretary, telling Holyrood that “victims do not have confidence in her”.

He added: “It just looks like a First Minister trying to protect one of his own rather than doing the right thing by victims across the country.

“The rules are clear - breaching the ministerial code is a sackable offense, but this SNP government is addicted to cover up and secrecy.”

Mr Sarwar said: “The truth is that Angela Constance isn't just a stranger to the truth, she is a stranger to competence as well.

“Our justice system is in utter chaos. Violent thugs have joined the ranks of those being released early from our prisons, a sexual predator is less likely to end up in jail now than five years ago, hundreds of drug dealers go unarrested, shopkeepers are left to defend themselves from professional gangs of shoplifters and violent crime is on the rise, with more and more children falling victim.

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“Angela Constance and the SNP are soft on crime, but experts at cover up. So will John Swinney explain to Scots why this incompetent and untrustworthy justice secretary is still in post.”

He added: “Why does John Swinney and the SNP hold the people of Scotland in such utter contempt?”

In response, Mr Swinney said: “I do no such thing.”

The First Minister added: “What I do in office is I focus my government on making sure that it delivers for the people of Scotland, and it is doing so.

“I serve the people of Scotland with every fibre of my body, and I tend to continue doing so.”

Speaking to journalists after First Minister’s Questions, Ms Constance confirmed she is not going to resign as justice secretary.

She was flanked by Finance Secretary Shona Robison, Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown and Parliamentary Business Minister Graeme Dey.

She said: “My priority each day is to continue to serve the justice system.

“It has only been a few months since I delivered one of the biggest reforms for victims in this country and that is where my focus is and I am always happy to answer questions.

“My position hasn’t changed and right now I’m going up the stairs to a meeting where I will focus on playing my part in delivering justice and serving victims.”

When asked if she has offered to resign, Ms Constance said: “No, I have not offered to resign.

“I’m going to continue with every breath I have. Yes, I will explain my position as required, but I am focused on the job I have to do.

“There are challenges in the justice system that I break every sinew to address, but my priority is always public safety and victims in Scotland.”