Swinney will not be investigated over claims he misled Parliament over pensions

The First Minister will not be investigated over claims he broke the ministerial code by misleading the Scottish Parliament, his independent advisers have decided.

John Swinney said he had been informed by the advisers that “no investigation is required”.

The SNP leader alerted the ethics watchdogs after facing calls to correct the official record over his claim that Scots would “lose our pensions” because of Andy Burnham’s changes to the triple lock.

Writing to presiding officer Kenneth Gibson, Swinney said while he had made clear that pensioners would lose out on £2,000 a year, but said opposition MSPs had “focused on a single sentence” during an exchange at FMQs.

He said: “There have been a number of written requests, including correspondence from MSPs, calling for an investigation by the independent advisers on the ministerial code.

“Rather than looking at the whole FMQ exchanges, these calls focused on a single sentence where I concluded, ‘We have been taken out of the European Union and we are now going to lose our pensions’.

“In line with normal processes, the independent advisers were made aware of these requests.

“They have now informed me that they have concluded that no investigation is required.”

The First Minister said he welcomed the finding, adding: “I am writing to you to be unambiguously clear that, as I set out, the loss is estimated to be £2,000 in real terms as compared to the triple lock remaining in place.

“I hope this is helpful and I now consider this matter closed.”

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay had accused Swinney of “scaremongering” and said he was “peddling flagrant misinformation”.

“I hope the advisers reach the obvious conclusion that Swinney did mislead pensioners and force him to set the record straight,” he said last week.

The First Minister wrote to Findlay on Monday, saying: “Further to my letter of October 5, I can advise that my advisers have now considered the matter in full, and concluded that there is nothing to investigate.

“As I have stated, I am satisfied that there has been no breach of the ministerial code, and therefore consider this issue closed.”

The Prime Minister announced proposals to reform the triple lock on pensions, meaning pensions will not rise by as much as they would have, in order to pay for social care in England.

Scotland receives money known as “Barnett consequentials” when England spends in devolved areas.

Findlay said: “John Swinney misled Parliament and he knows it.

“He should set the record straight instead of crowing that he has supposedly not breached the ministerial code.”