Call for SNP chief to be investigated for ‘perjury’

JACKIE Baillie has urged the Crown Office to investigate whether or not the SNP’s chief executive has “committed perjury”.

Peter Murrell appeared before the committee set up to scrutinise the botched handling of complaints against Alex Salmond in December.

Previously, text messages had come to light from him regarding the Alex Salmond allegations but Mr Murrell, husband of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, said no other messages in the same vein existed.

The committee set up to lead the inquiry last week issued an unprecedented Section 23 order to the Crown Office to secure the release of documentation, including text or WhatsApp messages between SNP chief operating officer Sue Ruddick and anyone in the government about the sexual harassment complaints procedure.

Scottish Labour interim leader Jackie Baillie said: “The Crown Office has indicated to the committee that they have text and WhatsApp messages.

“This was raised by Gordon Jackson QC at the preliminary hearing of the criminal trial of Alex Salmond, and Nicola Sturgeon said in an interview yesterday with Andrew Marr that there were no more relevant messages, suggesting that there are other messages.

“However, it is not her place to decide this – it is for the committee to make that call.

“The committee is also aware of information placed in the public domain that text and WhatsApp messages exist – just not the content of those messages.”

In a letter to high court Procurator Fiscal Kenny Donnelly, Ms Baillie called for an “urgent” investigation into Mr Murrell’s statements.

She wrote: “Given that his evidence was taken under oath, regard this as a very serious matter and I understand from parliamentary lawyers that committing perjury is considered to be a criminal offence.”

The Crown Office said it would respond to Ms Baillie “in due course”.

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