Sturgeon and husband witnesses in Salmond inquiry

First Minister among high-profile figures facing questions over handling of misconduct claims

NICOLA STURGEON and her husband could be forced to give evidence under oath to a Scottish Parliament inquiry into the mishandling of misconduct claims against Alex Salmond. The Scottish First Minister also faces having to hand over her personal phone records as a specially convened Holyrood committee gathers evidence over the summer. She has previously pledged to co-operate fully.

The committee met yesterday for the first time since Mr Salmond was acquitted of 13 counts of sexual assault in March. It issued a list of witnesses from whom it wants written testimony in the first instance “with a view to inviting a selection of these individuals to give oral evidence”. They included Ms Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell, who is also the SNP’S chief executive, Mr Salmond and John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister.

Ms Sturgeon’s chief of staff and her most senior mandarin, Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans, are also on the list as the committee examines the botched inquiry by civil servants.

Donald Cameron, a Tory committee member, proposed taking evidence under oath to maximise its accuracy amid “conflicting” claims. It is understood that no formal decision was taken in a private session that followed the public hearing after some opposition from other committee members.

Refusing to take an oath is an offence punishable by up to three months in jail or a £5,000 fine. Giving false evidence could result in a five-year prison sentence.

Mr Salmond won a judicial review last year when Scotland’s highest civil court found that the way the Scottish Government investigation was handled was unlawful. The case was abandoned on the eve of a Court of Session hearing after the government admitted it had breached its own guidelines by appointing an investigating officer who had “prior involvement” with two civil servants who had made complaints.

The SNP administration he once led paid him £512,250 of taxpayers’ money to cover his legal costs after the judge Lord Pentland ruled the inquiry was “procedurally unfair” and “tainted with apparent bias”.

The committee’s inquiry into the debacle was suspended when Mr Salmond was charged with sexual offences, but it was kick-started after he was cleared.

MSPS will likely investigate three meetings, including two at her home, and two phone calls Ms Sturgeon had with Mr Salmond.

Mr Cameron, an advocate, said that witnesses should have to give “sworn evidence on oath” to ensure the evidence is as accurate as possible, “not least because we are likely to get conflicting versions of events and there will be disputed areas of fact”.