00:00I acknowledge the recommendations that the committee have made. I think it's pretty clear though that the process has become highly politicised, which has compromised the process and the fairness of the process.
00:14I also think that the sanctions which they have proposed are excessive and that they are unfair.
00:22As it stands at the present moment, it will now be a matter for Parliament to decide on the report once it's presented to them.
00:29Whatever Parliament decides, I will obviously abide by that.
00:33Until then, I will continue to represent my constituents in Falkirk West, as I have had the pleasure of doing for many years and intend to do for many years to come.
00:42If a constituent came to me and said they were about to face a disciplinary panel at work and one of its members had made prejudicial comments about them, I would come down on that employer like a tonne of bricks.
00:55That is the situation that Michael Matheson is facing here and that is why I will not be supporting this sanction.
01:04He made a false claim for £11,000. He misled the public, the press and this Parliament.
01:16But when the scandal came to light, the SNP circled the wagons and backed him to the hilt.
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