AN SNP minister in the Scottish Government has apologised after leaked WhatsApp messages revealed comments about colleagues which she conceded were “not acceptable”.
Elena Whitham, the Drugs Policy Minister, came under fire from Scottish Labour after she criticised colleagues, other MSPs, and the Queen’s Jubilee in messages shown to the Daily Record.
Whitham, who was born in Scotland but grew up in Quebec, said in one message sent at the start of a Holyrood session on the late monarch’s Jubilee: “Give me strength to get through this royalist b*llocks.”
The MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley also sent messages criticising other MSPs, at one point writing of Tory Brian Whittle (above): “F*** me. Whittle is a p***k.”
Whitham also sent a message criticising Angus Robertson, the Culture Secretary, after he was handed the Cabinet role following the 2021 Holyrood election. “Angus in Cabinet [rolling eyes emoji] the ego has landed,” she wrote.
Also in 2021, Whitham suggested that Shona Robison, then the social justice secretary, could better present the work the SNP government was doing.
“Shona needing to find her stride here. She is struggling. It is a great statement and we are doing so much amazing work but she isn’t selling it as well as she could,” Whitham wrote, adding: “She is a bit of a cold fish.”
She said in later comments that she found Robison’s style to be like an “automaton” and “painful” to listen to.
READ MORE: 'Labour are undone': Jackie Baillie panned for 'car-crash' BBC interview
Messages also showed Whitham questioned why the SNP had not acted over accusations against Patrick Grady, the MP for Glasgow North who was found to have behaved inappropriately towards a teenage member of staff at a party function in 2016.
After a leaked recording from the SNP Westminster group showed internal support for Grady, Whitham messaged: “Wtf. Who is recording group meetings?! And why are we supporting Grady?? Honestly.”
The leaks are reported to have come from a group chat.
Whitham told the Record she was sorry for sending the messages. "These comments were not acceptable and I apologise sincerely,” she said.
An SNP spokesperson told that paper: "We do not comment on leaked messages, however we remind all of our parliamentarians of the courtesy and respect they should show each other."
READ MORE: Twitter users come up with new nickname for Sir Keir Starmer
Scottish Labour jumped on the leaks claiming it was “clear for all to see that Ms Whitham does not hold the Deputy First Minister [Robison] in high regard and views Angus Robertson as an egotist”.
Jackie Baillie further said that the messages showed “the SNP is in disarray”.
Baillie appeared on BBC Radio Scotland on Tuesday morning defending Keir Starmer’s decision not to commit to scrapping the two-child cap on benefits – while also insisting that she was “completely opposed” to the policy.
The Scottish Labour group deputy leader claimed that UK Labour would look at removing the limit – despite Starmer saying that was not party policy on Sunday.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel