JOHN Swinney has appointed three new independent advisers to the Scottish Ministerial Code, with two stepping down after a decade in their roles.
Claire Loftus, former director of public prosecutions in the Republic of Ireland, Sir John Manzoni, former cabinet office permanent secretary and vice president of BP, and Sir Ernest Ryder, former lord justice of appeal and senior president of tribunals, will also take up the new posts.
The ministerial code regulates the conduct of members of the Scottish Government, with strict rules about propriety and ethics.
Previously, referrals over previous breaches of the code had to be made by the first minister, but Swinney aims to change that, with the newest publication said to allow for advisers to start an investigation without instruction.
Current advisers Lady Eilish Angiolini and James Hamilton have stepped down having served for more than a decade, with the First Minister thanking them for their service.
Changes to the remit of independent advisers will be set out alongside a new Scottish Ministerial Code, which will be published shortly.
The First Minister said: “Independent Advisers to the Scottish Ministerial Code play a vital role in upholding the highest standards of integrity and propriety. “
Having served as Independent Advisers for 13 and 11 years respectively, Lady Eilish Angiolini and James Hamilton have made significant contributions to the role. I am grateful to them both for their dedicated public service.
“I look forward to working with Claire Loftus, Sir John Manzoni and Sir Ernest Ryder and welcome the expertise and knowledge they will bring to the role.
He added: “The new Scottish Ministerial Code will further strengthen transparency, accountability and independent scrutiny, with independent advisers able to launch their own investigations where they consider that necessary.”
Loftus succeeded Hamilton as director of public prosecutions in November 2011 and served for 10 years. She commenced her career as a prosecutor in 1993, and served on a committee of experts at the Council of Europe from March 2022 to September 2024.
She also serves as a member of the new Board of Directors for An Garda Siochana (the Irish police force), part of a reform of governance and oversight of the Irish police force.
Ryder was called to the bar in 1981 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1997. He became a recorder in 2000 and a deputy high court judge in 2001, before being promoted in 2013 to lord justice of appeal.
Manzoni is a former senior civil servant and business executive who served as Chief Executive of the civil service and the cabinet office permanent secretary from 2014 to 2020. Prior to joining the civil service he was a group vice president at BP.
In 2007, Manzoni left BP to become the president and chief executive officer of Talisman Energy, an oil and gas exploration and production company.
