Enough is enough. The refusals and redactions cannot go on

Almost two years after the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints first met, it has only a few, albeit significant, witnesses to hear from.

Alex Salmond then Nicola Sturgeon will give evidence in the next few weeks but today, at what feels like a critical juncture, the committee’s most pressing concern is not the former first minister, his successor, civil servants or special advisers. It is also, appallingly, not even the women who came forward to complain about the behaviour of Mr Salmond and expected their employers to competently investigate those complaints.

Today, right now, the most important question raised by this inquiry is about how democracy works in Scotland? And, more importantly, if it works? It is about ministers respecting our MSPS and their right, on our behalf, to scrutinise, challenge and question what is being done in our name.

On Friday, the Crown Office finally handed over documents which, if delivered in full, Mr Salmond suggests will bolster his claims of a conspiracy at the most senior levels of the Scottish Government and the SNP to ensure and encourage his criminal prosecution.

We have still to see what the Crown Office has given MSPS – although it would clearly rather we never do because, wait for it, that might not be in the public interest – but while its digital package arrived before the deadline, the legal advice given to the Scottish Government did not.

After umpteen formal requests and two votes in parliament, ministers’ stonewalling is beyond the pale. They promised to fully co-operate with this inquiry but have refused documents, delayed documents and redacted documents.

Perhaps, they must suspect, Scots have more to worry about than their apparent attempts to hobble this inquiry. We probably do. That does not make their actions right, however. It makes them even more of a disgrace.