Constance wins vote after losing the trust of grooming gang victims

ANGELA CONSTANCE survived a vote of no confidence at Holyrood yesterday despite being accused of misleading parliament - thanks to the SNP and Scottish Greens voting to defend her.

- BY DAVID WALKER Scottish Politics Reporter

She will remain Justice Secretary despite losing the trust of survivors of grooming gangs and child sexual exploitation.

In farcical scenes at the Scottish Parliament, John Swinney claimed that "the public will draw different conclusions from the words we all use" in defence of Ms Constance seemingly misrepresenting the views of a grooming gang expert.

He added: "Angela Constance is a sincere minister who would never address parliament in a way that would in any way mislead parliament or the public."

She has failed to apologise or correct the record. Instead, she has doubled down, insisting that she has not done anything wrong.

The First Minister has refused to clear her name by referring the incident to the independent advisers to the ministerial code. The final vote was 67-57 in favour of the SNP minister.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay led the debate and highlighted that "Angela Constance's conduct is inexcusable and no longer tenable." He explained