Questions on leaks are denied
NICOLA Sturgeon told the Holyrood Inquiry yesterday how the Daily Record broke the news of bombshell allegations against Alex Salmond – but denied anyone in her team leaked the story.
She also denied claims by Labour MSP Jackie Baillie it had been told to the Record in a bid to halt another story about Sturgeon.
Our scoop, in August 2018, had MSPs speculating which Scottish Government source could have leaked details of the investigation into the former SNP leader.
Salmond last week claimed it was “politically inspired” to confound legal action he was planning against the government. He told MSPs there were 23 possible leak sources but could not substantiate who it was.
Baillie asked Sturgeon if she had ordered an official probe into the leak.
The First Minister said: “The view of the person accused of this is that it didn’t happen. I’m not able to go into, for the legal constraints I’m under, why that is the case.”
Baillie added: “I understood there had been two stories – one on August 23 and one on August 25 which had details of complainants. The first talked about complaints but the second went into details. Where do you consider the leaks came from?”
Sturgeon said she didn’t know and added: “They didn’t come from me, or anyone acting on my instruction.”
Baillie also claimed she was told the Record was leaked information on Salmond to “spike” an upcoming story about Sturgeon, who replied: “That is a new part of the conspiracy I’m hearing for the first time. Just think how implausible that is. That’s an incredible coincidence, which is why it didn’t happen.”