News Articles
28 June, 2005
Police investigate hoax statement that MSP is gay
Source: BBC
POLICE were last night investigating a hoax press release sent out to all news outlets in Scotland claiming that Malcolm Chisholm, the communities minister, was "gay and in love".
The spoof press release which purported to be Mr Chisholm's "coming out" statement was posted on the wire service used by the Scottish Executive to send information to the media.
It was carefully and skilfully done and even contained the Executive's code number for official press releases.
Mr Chisholm yesterday dismissed the hoax as "rubbish", and the Scottish Executive confirmed it had called in police.
The release was set up to look like a personal statement from Mr Chisholm. It said the minister wanted to announce he was gay and had found love with another man.
Mr Chisholm was supposed to have said: "There was always something missing from my life. I am aware of much speculation in media circles, and even amongst my own fellow MSPs regarding my sexuality.
"But I would today like to shake off the shackles that have bound me and announce to the world that I am gay and I'm in love."
It continued: "I feel that now I will be able to carry out my duties as minister for communities with renewed vigour and hope to encourage my fellow gay MSPs to come out and admit who they really are."
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police confirmed an inquiry under way. He said: "We have received a complaint which we are looking into."
It is understood that if the perpetrator is caught, he or she could be charged under the Telecommunications Act.
Mr Chisholm, who is married with three children, dismissed the press release, saying: "It is all rubbish, it is total rubbish."
When asked who might be responsible, he added: "You make enemies in politics, it's as simple as that."
Mr Chisholm refused to go into any details about his "enemies" but clearly believes he has been targeted by a politically motivated opponent.
Senior civil servants realised the hoax had to have been perpetrated by someone with a good knowledge of the Executive because it included the name of a senior Executive press officer and her phone number.
An Executive spokesman said last night: "The news release is a hoax. A security investigation is under way and the police have been informed."
The hoax provided some amusement for MSPs in the parliament yesterday but will embarrass ministers and civil servants, particularly those involved in security and the Executive's computer system.
The investigation is likely to prompt a tightening of security at the Scottish Executive with information technology experts brought in to make sure the system of computer news releases is improved.
The police will investigate all those with access to the Executive's computer-generated press release system, but there were suggestions last night that it could have come from outside the Executive.
One computer expert, who did not want to be named, said it would be possible for somebody with a good working knowledge of computers to have sent the release from outside the Scottish Executive, but to have made it appear as if it had come from inside.
Mr Chisholm is no stranger to political controversy, having resigned from the government in Westminster in the first year of the Labour government in protest at benefit cuts.
He also provoked consternation when he declared his opposition to the Iraq war by grabbing a megaphone outside his office and denouncing the British decision to go to war.
But he has always led a private family life and never suffered in public from any private scandals.
