Pressure on Sturgeon to release details of meetings with Salmond

NICOLA Sturgeon has been urged to release details of her meetings with Alex Salmond following sexual harassment complaints against him by two women.

Officials will not ‘confirm or deny’ holding the information as pressure grows on the First Minister to disclose when she met her predecessor and what was discussed following the serious allegations.

It has been confirmed that the pair met three times after Miss Sturgeon was first informed of the inquiry by Mr Salmond in April last year, but she has refused to provide further details.

In a series of Freedom of Information request refusals, officials say to disclose the information, or even say if they have it, could prejudice live legal proceedings.

Opponents have questioned if giving basic details of meetings between the First Minister and Mr Salmond would ‘jeopardise’ anything.

A rift between the pair has emerged since the claims were revealed, with Miss Sturgeon defending the Scottish Government’s complaints handling, despite Mr Salmond dragging civil servants to court.

A Scottish Government spokesman said last night: ‘At the heart of this issue are two complaints which could not be ignored or swept under the carpet.

‘In the fullness of time the Scottish Government will seek to make available as much information as it can – however, as we have said previously, for legal reasons the Scottish Government can make no further comment at this time.

‘The Freedom of Information Act makes specific and well-known provision for circumstances where releasing information would be likely to prejudice substantially the administration of justice.’