Salmond row: Inquiry into SNP may be led by... SNP!

NICOLA Sturgeon yesterday refused to rule out the SNP overseeing an inquiry into her Government’s botched Alex Salmond probe.

The inquiry was confirmed this week after the Scottish Government was forced to admit their investigation into complaints from two women was unlawful.

The SNP will be offered the role of chair of the inquiry, but Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard yesterday urged Miss Sturgeon to give the role to another party.

During First Minister’s Questions yesterday, she also faced calls for all SNP documents and emails surrounding the investigation to be made available to the committee.

Mr Leonard said the Holyrood inquiry was the ‘right thing to do in order to rebuild trust in a system that has been badly dented’.

He added: ‘So will the First Minister’s party do the right thing? Will it step aside and ensure an MSP from another party chairs the inquiry?’

But she told Mr Leonard: ‘It is not me who is establishing the inquiry and it is not me who will decide who will conduct the inquiry.’

Last night, Mr Leonard said: ‘According to parliamentary prece- dent, the position of committee chair is due to be offered to the SNP – but this is unprecedented and Nicola Sturgeon must agree that this inquiry will be chaired by an opposition MSP. Nicola Sturgeon should do the right thing.’

Miss Sturgeon is fighting to hold on to her post after it emerged she held three meetings and two phone calls with Mr Salmond to discuss the Government’s inquiry into two sexual misconduct allegations against him, which he denies.

She faces a further three probes into the case – including an inquiry into whether she broke the ministerial code. If she did breach it, she would be under pressure to resign.

Yesterday, she refused to answer questions on the row.

Scottish Tory interim leader Jackson Carlaw said: ‘The First Minister cannot continue to duck these questions in the chamber while her spin doctors are briefing in the corridors of the Scottish Parliament, with their version of the same issues.

‘Nicola Sturgeon has been caught out – when the boot was on the other foot she said opponents couldn’t hide behind the inquiries, now she’s in the spotlight she’s dashing for the long grass.

‘For her to attack those asking legitimate questions about this scandal is beneath the office of First Minister.’

‘Sturgeon should do the right thing’