SNP is being derailed by Salmond war

Team Sturgeon and Salmond came close to delivering a political victory worthy of a Braveheart- style Hollywood blockbuster in 2014.

Seven years later, the war between them bears all the hallmarks of a Shakespearian tragedy as it rips the SNP apart and threatens to derail the Nationalist cause to which they dedicated their lives.

Despite never having been more popular with voters, Sturgeon is facing claims she broke the Ministerial Code on multiple occasions over her involvement in the Scottish Government’s botched sexual harassment probe into Salmond.

Once by misleading Parliament over what she knew and when, and again by failing to properly record meetings with Salmond at her house.

Our revelations today have prompted Scottish Labour to allege a third breach occurred when she failed to uphold the administration of justice by fighting a judicial review in the face of legal guidance which said it was doomed.

At the heart of this scandal are claims senior figures within Sturgeon’s government and party conspired to bring her predecessor down because he was perceived as a threat.

The people who have been most badly let down are the women who felt genuinely to be victims and are now at the centre of a political pantomime.

By Salmond’s own admission, he is no angel and his behaviour clearly fell below socially acceptable standards.

But Sturgeon’s conduct and judgment is an entirely separate matter and if she is found to have broken the rules, she will need to take responsibility.

Former first minister Henry McLeish and others arguably resigned for less.