SNP minister to face vote of no confidence

Rivals hit out over grooming gaffe

- CHRIS MCCALL

JOHN Swinney has been accused of "defending the indefensible" after he defied calls to sack the SNP Justice Secretary.

Angela Constance is under mounting pressure after she was accused of misrepresenting the views of an expert on grooming gangs during a Holyrood debate in September.

Emails published last night show that Professor Alexis Kay contacted the SNP minister directly to complain about how her views were portrayed to MSPs.

Constance is set to face a motion of no confidence at the Scottish Parliament next week after both Labour and the Conservatives demanded her sacking.