‘Nicileaks’ row ends bruising campaign
● FM stands ‘100% behind’ claims ● Labour slam ‘gutter politics’
Nicola Sturgeon has said she stands 100 per cent behind her claim during a TV election debate that Labour rival Kezia Dugdale privately backed a second independence referendum.
The row has also brought the First Minister’s integrity under fire, with Ms Dugdale accusing Ms Sturgeon of lying and Tory leader Ruth Davidson branding her untrustworthy for revealing details of a private conversation.
Nicola Sturgeon has said she stands 100 per cent behind her claim that Labour rival Kezia Dugdale privately backed a second independence referendum, as the row brought the First Minister’s integrity under scrutiny.
The Labour leader was reprimanded at Holyrood yesterday for accusing the First Minister of lying over the issue as they clashed following an explosive live TV encounter on Tuesday.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson branded the SNP leader untrustworthy for revealing details of a private conversation.
Ms Sturgeon’s own advisers went on the offensive yesterday, insisting she told them of Ms Dugdale’s U-turn on a secgreement ond referendum at the time. The row centres on claims made by Ms Sturgeon in a live STV leaders’ debate that the Labour leader had said in a private one-to-one phone conversation between the pair on the day after the Brexit vote that Labour could no longer oppose a second referendum on independence.
It was denied by Labour at the time who accused Ms Sturgeon of “lying” and Ms Dugdale yesterday accused the First Minister of the “dragging politics into the gutter”.
The leaders clashed over the issue at Holyrood yesterday, where Ms Dugdale described Ms Sturgeon’s description of NHS staffing as “the latest fib by the First Minister”.
After a reprimand from Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh, she branded i “other stuff she’s not told the truth about”.
Mr Macintosh again stepped in, saying: “Ms Dugdale, the point here is to be respectful and courteous to other members and not impugn their character.
“I recognise there is a disa- about accuracy but do not impugn someone else’s character in the chamber.”
The Labour leader had stated: “If the last 24 hours show us anything it’s that this First Minister will say anything to deflect from the SNP’S appalling record.”
But this brought a stinging response from the First Minister about the private phone conversation between pair.
Ms Sturgeon said: “I know what was said in that conversation and so does she. And I’m standing here in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament and I am certain of what was said.
“And do you know what, there is nothing wrong whatsoever with Kezia Dugdale having changed her mind since then. What is wrong is that Kezia Dugdale, having held that view, to suggest to people who still hold that view are somehow expressing something unthinkable, that’s what I think is not legitimate.”
The row erupted during the STV leaders’ debate on Tuesday when the First Minister told Ms Dugdale: “You and I spoke the day after the EU referendum and you told me then that you thought the change with Brexit meant that Labour should stop opposing a referendum.”
The controversial call took place on the afternoon of 24 June last year, the day after the Brexit vote. It came after a press conference Ms Sturgeon had staged at Bute House, when she revealed work had started on legislation for a second independence referendum.
A majority of Scots had voted to Remain in the European Union, but votes south of the Border swung the result in favour of Leave.
Mssturgeon’sofficialspokesman said yesterday that both he and other colleagues were told immediately afterwards about the call.
“She basically said that Kezia Dugdale said to her that she was in a position of trying to move Scottish Labour’s position away from opposition to an independence referendum specifically in light of Brexit,” the spokesman said.
Two months before the EU referendum, Ms Dugdale told the Fabian Review it was “not inconceivable” she could back independence in the event of Brexit, if Scots voted Remain.