MSPs to quiz key figure at Salmond inquiry

The Alex Salmond inquiry will resume in a few hours’ time when a key figure in the Scottish Government investigation into harassment claims against the former first minister gives evidence.

Judith Mackinnon, the civil servant who led the government’s internal inquiry into the allegations against Mr Salmond, is to be quizzed by MSPs.

At first glance, her appearance may not be as “box office” as that of Nicola Sturgeon or Mr Salmond, when they finally take the oath in front of the inquiry later this year.

Nevertheless, her evidence to the committee is likely to be crucial, given that its remit is to investigate how the Scottish Government dealt with its internal inquiry into complaints made against Mr Salmond.

The committee was established after Mr Salmond objected to the way the complaints had been handled and took successful civil legal action against the government.

A judicial review found the process had been “tainted with apparent bias ”, an outcome that led to him being paid more than £500,000 in taxpayers’ cash to meet legal costs.

In a separate criminal case, Mr Salmond was cleared earlier this year of all charges in a sexual assault trial.

In the civil case, Ms Ma ck innon ’ s appointment to lead the internal inquiry into Mr Salmond’s behaviour was one of the key considerations of the Court of Session.

The court found the Scottish Government had breached its own procedures by appointing her to conduct an investigation that was supposed to be independent, even though she had already met both women who had complained about Mr Salmond.