HEADS MUST ROLL
Salmond calls on the First Minister’s husband to resign as he guns for four members of Sturgeon’s inner circle
ALEX Salmond has delivered a devastating demand for Nicola Sturgeon’s inner circle to resign – including her husband Peter Murrell.
He stopped short of calling for the First Minister to go – but claimed she had broken the ministerial code.
DURING a marathon six hours of testimony to the Holyrood committee, Alex Salmond opened up for the first time about how he has been affected by the claims made against him.
He said for the past “two years and six months this has been a nightmare”. The torment culminated in his “astonishment” on Wednesday when Nicola Sturgeon, his former protege, used a Covid press briefing to effectively question the conclusions of a jury which cleared him of 13 sexual assault charges.
Salmond said: “Still, I said nothing. Well today that changes.”
He used his opening statement to turn attention away from his own actions, declining the offer to make an apology for his acknowledged behaviour.
He told MSPs: “This inquiry is not about me – I’ve already established the illegality of the actions of the Scottish Government in the Court of Session, and I’ve been acquitted of all criminal charges by a jury in the highest court in the land.
“It’s an investigation into the conduct of ministers, the permanent secretaries, civil servants and special advisers. It also requires to shine a light on the activities of the Crown Office, and to examine the unacceptable conduct of those who appear to have no understanding of the importance of separation of party and government and prosecution authorities – and indeed of the rule of law itself.”
He concluded: “Collectively, these events shine a light on a government whose actions are no longer true to the principles of openness, accountability and transparency, which are the core principles on which the Scottish Parliament was founded.
“I remember – I was there.”