FRESH bullying claims have been made against a Scottish Government cabinet minister, it has been confirmed.
Rural Economy and Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing is at the centre of complaints made by civil servants at Marine Scotland in Edinburgh.
It has been reported a number of employees made complaints towards the end of last year.
Mr Ewing said he completely rejected all claims against him.
Speaking to journalists in Holyrood, he said: "A process is underway and that is entirely right and proper when such allegations are made.
"That process is at an early stage. I will make no further comment whilst that process is ongoing."
Mr Ewing was asked if he would step down while this process is underway, but did not answer.
The Scottish Government’s ministerial code makes clear bullying will not be tolerated.
It says Nicola Sturgeon is the “ultimate judge of the standards of behaviour expected of a minister and of the appropriate consequences of a breach of those standards”.
In 2018, Mr Ewing apologised for his “forthright” attitude after a bullying allegation.
Mr Ewing's portfolio was recently expanded to include tourism in a reshuffle prompted by the Derek Mackay scandal.
Mr Mackay resigned as Finance Secretary after it emerged he had bombarded a 16-year-old boy with texts, including calling him "cute".
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