Tory minister Priti Patel snubs Holyrood appearance

The minister's appearance at Holyrood had been scheduled months earlier. Image: Jayne Emsley

A Tory government minister has come under fire for snubbing an appearance before MSPs at Holyrood.

Employment minister Priti Patel agreed to give public evidence during informal talks with MSPs in October, according to welfare reform committee convenor Hugh Henry.

But she has now said she won’t be able to attend before the pre-election dissolution of Holyrood due to “parliamentary commitments”.

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“She has had four months to make this happen and she now tells us that she is unable to come to Edinburgh before dissolution in March,” Mr Henry said.

“It is unacceptable that MSPs have not had the opportunity to question UK ministers in public session.”

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