Scramble to save health secretary Michael Matheson amid iPad row

Michael Matheson, the Scottish health secretary, has revealed that his family misused his parliamentary iPad by running up an £11,000 expenses bill watching football while on holiday in Morocco.

The Falkirk East MSP previously claimed to have used the device for “constituency purposes” during the week-long Christmas break and provided a written assurance to the Holyrood authorities that all use had been above board.

In an emotional statement to Holyrood, during which his voice cracked several times, Matheson said he wanted to protect his children from media scrutiny but that “the simple truth is they were watching football matches”.

Matheson said he handed his iPad to officials in January after being made aware of the huge bill. He said he had no idea how he