Sturgeon will refer herself to panel over Salmond meetings
NICOLA Sturgeon has confirmed that she will refer herself to the panel of independent advisers on the Ministerial Code over her meetings with Alex Salmond.
The First Minister said that she met Mr Salmond on three occasions and had spoken to him on the phone twice after sexual harassment allegations had been made by two women against him to the Scottish Government in January 2018.
On Tuesday, the Scottish Government’s handling of the allegations against former first minister Mr Salmond was ruled unlawful by Scotland’s highest civil court.
Ms Sturgeon said: “It is in the interests of the women who have complained that the ongoing police investigations are allowed to continue without any risk of prejudice. That must be the priority.
“Questions have been raised about my meetings and telephone calls with Alex Salmond during the Government’s investigation into the complaints which were made.
“I have acted appropriately and in good faith throughout, and in compliance with the Ministerial Code at all times.
“However, I have reflected carefully and understand that it is also important for Parliament and the wider public to be assured of that.
“I have therefore decided to refer the matter for consideration by one or both of the Independent Advisers on the Ministerial Code.”
Opposition parties had been calling for Ms Sturgeon to make the referral to the watchdog, with Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw describing the situation as “a shambles” during First Minister’s Ques- tions on Tuesday.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard MSP indicated that Nicola Sturgeon had “done the right thing” in referring herself under the Ministerial Code and called for a full inquiry.
He said: “Transparency is now absolutely essential in order for the public to have confidence in the First Minister and the Scottish Government.
“That is why we should also see a full, public parliamentary inquiry in to what exactly has happened – and I look forward to working constructively with members from other parties this week in order to secure that.”
Mr Carlaw called the First Minister’s handling of the situation “abysmal”.
He said: “The First Minister says Parliament deserves assurances about the way she and her administration handled this matter. The best way to do that isn’t to kick the matter into the long grass, it’s to agree to an inquiry by parliament.”