The interim head of Carillion has stepped down from his role as an adviser to David Mundell to avoid becoming a “distraction”.
Keith Cochrane, who was the collapsed construction company’s interim chief executive until it went into voluntary liquidation last week with debts of £1.3 billion, has been a non-executive director at the Scotland Office since December 2015.
Mr Mundell, the Scottish secretary, praised Mr Cochrane as “one of Scotland’s most respected businessmen” but told MPs that he would be stepping aside from his responsibilities in the Scotland Office “until the investigation into Carillion and any subsequent inquiries are complete”.
Mr Mundell, who had come under pressure from opposition parties, said that Mr Cochrane had taken the decision “in order not to become a distraction at a time of very important work for the Scotland Office”. He added that non-executive directors in government departments were not responsible for taking policy decisions.
In a separate development, Keith Brown, the Scottish government’s economy secretary, told MSPs that he would not be able to give a date for the opening of the Aberdeen western peripheral route until issues related to Carillion’s demise were “bottomed out”. The £745 million project had been due for completion in the spring.
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The Scottish secretary also came under fire in the Commons after the UK government failed to reach agreement with the devolved administrations over clause 11 of the withdrawal bill, which determines the return of powers from Brussels after Brexit. The Scottish government has branded the bill a “power grab” and has signalled it will refuse to grant approval for the bill in Holyrood until changes are made.
Mr Mundell said he accepted “full responsibility” for the delay in finalising changes before a vote last week but dismissed calls from Pete Wishart, SNP MP for Perth & North Perthshire, to “think about his own position”.