Sturgeon ‘refutes’ Salmond claims
Chief of staff ‘didn’t encourage complaints’
POLITICS: Nicola Sturgeon has said she “refutes” claims that her chief of staff Liz Lloyd interfered in an investigation of Alex Salmond .
In the House of Commons, Yorkshire Conservative MP David Davis read out messages that he suggested showed a “concerted effort” to encourage complaints” against Salmond.
NICOLA STURGEON has said she “refutes” claims that her chief of staff Liz Lloyd interfered in an investigation of Alex Salmond in the latest development in the long-running dispute between Scotland’s First Minister and her predecessor.
Using parliamentary privilege in the House of Commons, Yorkshire Conservative MP David Davis read out messages that he suggested showed a “concerted effort by senior members of the SNP to encourage complaints” against the former first minister, as a Holyrood inquiry probes the botched handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond.
According to Mr Davis, the messages disclosed by a whistleblower “demands serious investigation”, with one alleging the investigating officer in the case complained of interference by Ms Sturgeon’s chief of staff.
The message is alleged to have been sent by Judith Mackinnon to the Government’s communications director on February 6, 2018, almost two months before the First Minister claims to have first known about the investigation of her predecessor.
Mr Davis said: “The investigating officer complained ‘Liz interference v bad’ – I assume that means very bad.
“If true, this suggests the chief of staff had knowledge of the Salmond case in February, not in April, as she has claimed on oath.
“The First Minister also tied herself to that April date in both parliamentary and legal statements.
“She was of course aware earlier than that: the question is, just how aware and how much earlier?”
Challenged about the claims during the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing yesterday, Ms Sturgeon insisted she has confidence in her chief of staff and she “strongly” denies the allegations.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Other than to say that I strongly refute [sic] the suggestions and insinuations of David Davis in the House of Commons last night, I am not going to have this Covid briefing sidetracked by the latest instalment of Alex Salmond’s conspiracy theory.
“I have given eight hours of evidence to the parliamentary committee looking into this. They are now able to assess all of the evidence they’ve taken, including, I’m sure, the evidence they have in relation to the suggestions and claims made by David Davis last night.
“They have a job of work to do, now, I’m going to allow them to do that job of work and, in the meantime I’m going to get on with my job.”
The Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints was set up after a successful judicial review by Mr Salmond resulted in the Scottish Government’s investigation being ruled unlawful and “tainted by apparent bias”, with a £512,250 payout being awarded to him for legal fees in 2019.
In the Commons, Mr Davis also accused the Scottish Government of obstructing the Holyrood inquiry into the saga.
They have a job of work to do... I’m going to get on with my job. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.