STURGEON vs SALMOND: IT’S ALL-OUT WAR
Row explodes as First Minister attacks ex-leader over ‘smear’
NICOLA Sturgeon has accused Alex Salmond of a ‘smear’ against her as open warfare broke out over their secret talks about sexual misconduct allegations.
The First Minister launched an extraordinary attack on her former mentor as the row over their dealings threatened to put her career on the line.
It is the latest development in a row over Miss Sturgeon’s five secret conversations with Mr Salmond during which sexual misconduct allegations against him were discussed before they became public.
And it came only a day after the SnP leader caved in to pressure from opponents and referred herself for an investigation into whether she had broken strict government rules.
Miss Sturgeon has admitted holding a series of meetings and telephone calls with Mr Salmond which were not recorded as government
business, as is required under the ministerial code of conduct.
The initial meeting, held at her home near Glasgow in April 2018, was arranged by Miss Sturgeon’s chief of staff Liz Lloyd, who was also in attendance. It was here that Mr Salmond revealed for the first time that he was under investigation.
But the war of words between the formerly firm friends escalated yesterday after Miss Sturgeon’s official spokesman issued a statement claiming Mr Salmond’s team had attempted to smear her, after reports suggested she was aware of the Government investigation into the former first minister before she met him in April.
Mr Salmond’s aides responded by insisting the First Minister’s top adviser, chief of staff Liz Lloyd, knew about the complaints against the former MP ‘some time’ before he met Miss Sturgeon – and that she arranged the first contact with his representatives at the beginning of March.
MSPs are expected to agree today to launch a Holyrood inquiry into the First Minister’s actions and the Scottish Government’s botched investigation into Mr Salmond.
Tory MSP Annie Wells said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon may think she has dealt with this by referring herself under the ministerial
‘Approaching a full-blown scandal’
code. However, only a full Holyrood inquiry will get to the bottom of this unedifying conflict, one which is now approaching a full-blown scandal.
‘It’s nothing short of remarkable to see Nicola Sturgeon and her mentor embark on this type of public warfare.’
Mr Salmond’s aides appeared to brief two newspapers that Miss Lloyd knew about the Government investigation before Miss Sturgeon met him in April 2018 – when the First Minister said she was first made aware of the probe.
But Miss Sturgeon’s official spokesman said: ‘This appears to be an attempt to smear the First Minister. Suggestions by Mr Salmond’s “insiders” that the First Minister knew about the investigation before April 2 are not true. The suggestion put to Miss Sturgeon’s chief of staff by The Times, that she knew of complaints when she met someone who could be described as an intermediary for Alex Salmond on March 6, is also not true.’
The Sun yesterday quoted sources close to Mr Salmond claiming Miss Sturgeon was aware of the allegations about him before she met him on April 2. The Times suggested that Miss Lloyd advised Mr Salmond through an intermediary not to stand for election because of the sexual misconduct allegations against him.
Miss Sturgeon has claimed that she learned about the allegations from Mr Salmond directly only when they met on April 2, and that she had not known why he wanted to meet her.
The Scottish Government confirmed that Miss Lloyd met ‘someone who could be described as an intermediary to Alex Salmond’ on March 6 last year but insisted that ‘any reference to allegations or complaints of harassment against Alex Salmond’ during the discussion were ‘in the context of media inquiries made around the time the MeToo campaign began’.
It also insisted that Miss Lloyd did not know of any complaints against Mr Salmond or a Government investigation.
It is understood that the March 6 talks between Miss Lloyd, who is a Government employee, and an ‘intermediary’ for Mr Salmond happened before he had been formally notified that the Government had opened an investigation into his conduct.
Mr Salmond’s team yesterday insisted that Miss Lloyd knew of
‘Happy to give evidence’
the complaints ‘some time before’ the First Minister met him on April 2 – and that she initiated the first contact with an ‘intermediary’. A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: ‘We will not be commenting on the content of private meetings or discussions on or off the record but Alex has made it clear that, if asked, he will be happy to give evidence to the panel of independent advisers. This then is our first and only comment on this issue of the ministerial code.
‘In the interests of accuracy it is the case that the First Minister’s senior special adviser knew of the existence of complaints against Alex some time before the meeting
of April 2 and that she initiated the first contact through an intermediary. They then arranged the meeting which Alex asked for. Alex has no certainty as to the state of knowledge of the First Minister before then.’
Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans has said she informed Mr Salmond of the complaints about him in March 2018.
Last night, the Scottish Government refused to reveal the exact date, saying it ‘cannot comment’ due to the ongoing review by the Permanent Secretary and the upcoming investigation by advisers to the ministerial code.