Sturgeon accused on Salmond ‘cover-up’

RUTH DAVIDSON has accused the Scottish Government of proceeding with an attempted coverup after new evidence emerged of warnings it could look “shifty” if information continued to be withheld during Alex Salmond’s legal challenge.

Nicola Sturgeon was asked at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday about an email exchange in which the Government was told not disclosing the ultimately-damning evidence of prior contact could be “portrayed as a failed attempt at a cover-up”.

According to the note released this week by the Government, external counsel argued it would be “better, more credible and less shifty-looking” to adjust its defence against Mr Salmond’s legal challenge over the Government’s handling of sexual harassment complaints made against him.

The note from a Government official – whose name is redacted – to Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans and the Government’s legal director Paul Cackette followed a meeting between the external counsel, Ms Sturgeon and Ms Evans.

The Government says no notes or minutes can be found from the meeting, but the correspondence indicates counsel advised adjusting the judicial review pleadings after evidence came to light of prior contact between the investigating officer and two of the women whose complaints about Mr Salmond had been investigated.

Recounting the substance of the meeting, the note states that counsel “felt it better, more credible and less shifty-looking if we proceed as proposed”.

It continues: “That was on the basis it will probably all end up being out there anyway (since a specification of documents is likely) and better to face it transparently than having this dragged out reluctantly and portrayed as a failed attempt at a cover-up.”