The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Review into alleged breach of ministerial code by first minister
Scottish Government set to investigate claims against Sturgeon
The review of allegations First Minister Nicola Sturgeon may have tried to influence the investigation into the Alex Salmond sexual misconduct probe has been relaunched.
Coronavirus and a court case against Mr Salmond – of which he was acquitted of all allegations made against him – had delayed the referral of the first minister, regarding possible breaches of the ministerial code she is accused of making during the Scottish Government’s initial investigation into complaints made against her former boss in 2018.
Correspondence between the committee on the Scottish Government handling of harassment complaints and those invited to give evidence was released yesterday evening, which included a written response from Deputy First Minister John Swinney and an invitation to appear to Scotland’s most senior civil servant Leslie Evans.
The Scottish Government investigated complaints against Mr Salmond in 2018, challenged by the former SNP leader and ruled to be biased and unlawful, resulting in a £500,000 payout.
The government committee, convened by SNP MSP Linda Fabiani, will investigate.
The referral against the alleged breach of the ministerial code by Ms Sturgeon will be led by former Irish director of prosecutions James Hamilton, who has been a standing member of independent advisers since 2013.
It is alleged Ms Sturgeon breached the code “in that she failed to feed back the basic facts of meetings and discussions held with Alex Salmond to her private office as required”.
Ms Sturgeon is said to have met Mr Salmond at her home on April 2, followed by a phone call between them on April 23 2018.
A meeting at SNP conference on June 7 2018, a visit by Mr Salmond to Ms Sturgeon at home on July 14 and a further phone call on July 18 2018 are referenced.
Ms Sturgeon held a meeting with Mr Salmond’s former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein, on March 29 2018.
Yesterday’s publication of this meeting is the first time it has been officially acknowledged, although it was made public during Mr Salmond’s trial this year.
Ms Sturgeon is alleged to have attempted to influence the conduct of the investigation then being undertaken by the permanent secretary into allegations made against Mr Salmond under the “procedure for handling of harassment complaints involving current or former ministers.”
Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans will appear before the committee on the government’s handling of harassment complaints on Tuesday August 18.
It is alleged Ms Sturgeon breached the code ‘in that she failed to feed back the basic facts of meetings and discussions held with Alex Salmond to her private office as required’