THE Health Secretary has conceded that he was in fact in the queue to buy Oasis tickets during an event at the SNP conference – despite previously dismissing reports that said he was.
Neil Gray had said claims that he had been trying to buy tickets to see the 90s rockers’ reunion tour during a fringe event about how Scotland could “lead the world” on brain health research were “total nonsense”.
The SNP minister had appeared alongside leading experts including Professor Frank Gunn-Moore from the University of St Andrews and Professor Terry Quinn from the University of Glasgow when he made a joke about queueing for Oasis on his phone.
READ MORE: I'm an SNP member with concerns – here's my verdict on conference
He said he felt “half the world away” from getting to see the band, a comment which was reported as him saying he had been “half the world away” from the events in the brain health research discussion.
Gray was also quoted as saying: “I’m in the queue to buy Oasis tickets [...] on multiple devices. Hope is very important [...] that I get these tickets.”
Responding to the story on social media, the Health Secretary said it was “total nonsense”, adding: “I wasn’t trying to buy tickets in the meeting. I was fully focused on chairing and contributing to what was an inspiring session on brain health research and how Scotland, by the experts’ own words, is leading the world.”
On Wednesday, however, Gray admitted to LBC that he had in fact been trying to buy the tickets.
"Like most people on Saturday, I think everybody was in a queue," he said.
"I was trying to get on to Ticketmaster all morning, but my phone was in my pocket and I made a passing joke about being 'half the world away' from being able to get any tickets."
The Sunday Mail had stood by their original story about Gray, saying they had checked with his press team before publication.
READ MORE: John Swinney confirms 'key' Creative Scotland fund can continue
Asked about this, Gray told LBC: "I was in the queue and anybody that understands how being in a queue for tickets works, it wasn't something that was fast moving.
“So my phone was in my pocket, there was progress made in this queue dispersing.
"I didn't actually end up getting on to Ticketmaster, such was the demand for tickets.
“But no, I was fully focused at the meeting, on hearing and chairing the discussion on an inspiring area of policy development that's happening here in Scotland and I was fully focused on that and both participants and the panel would be.”
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