The SNP emails they DON’T want you to see
‘Spurious excuses’ for blocking release of Sturgeon’s messages about Mackay
NICOLA Sturgeon’s messages about her finance secretary’s resignation have been censored by the Scottish Government.
Officials have blocked the release of the First Minister’s communications in the days around Derek Mackay’s departure, when it was disclosed that he bombarded a 16-year-old boy with messages.
The Government claimed releasing the written notes, emails, text messages and WhatsApp messages would be ‘likely to endanger the safety of ministers’.
But critics said it is hiding behind ‘spurious excuses’ in order to avoid an explanation of events.
They urged the SNP to stop operating a ‘secret Scotland approach to government’.
In a freedom of information request, the Scottish Daily Mail asked the Government to provide all correspondence between Miss Sturgeon and her special advisers, chief of staff and private office in relation to allegations about Mr Mackay in the days running up to his decision to resign and the following six days.
But the Government’s response said some information could not be disclosed because it was ‘peris sonal’. It added: ‘Section 39 (1) applies because we consider that release would be likely to endanger the safety of ministers.’
It went on: ‘While we recognise that there is some public interest in release of this information in order to promote openness, there a much greater public interest in avoiding significant risks to the safety of ministers.’
Tory MSP Donald Cameron said: ‘It’s pretty clear the SNP Government is hiding behind spurious excuses in order to avoid an explanation of events that night.’
He added: ‘The SNP must stop operating a “secret Scotland” approach to government.’
Mr Mackay resigned as finance secretary on February 6, hours before he was due to deliver his Budget at Holyrood.
The only correspondence the Scottish Government did release was an email from Miss Sturgeon to her chief of staff, Liz Lloyd, amending her statement to parliament on Mr Mackay’s departure.
In the agreed speech, she confirmed she had accepted Mr Mackay’s resignation, pointed out he had ‘apologised unreservedly’ for his conduct and recognised it fell below the standard required.
The Scottish Government also published two emails from Miss Lloyd to Miss Sturgeon on February 7, providing transcripts of two radio interviews with Deputy First Minister John Swinney about Mr Mackay’s departure.
Mr Mackay has not been seen in public since quitting, but remains an MSP. The SNP is holding an internal inquiry into his conduct.
A spokesman for the First Minister said: ‘Derek Mackay resigned, rightly, once his actions came to light. The Tories should accept that instead of trying to make petty political points when we all have far more serious issues to deal with.’