As Sturgeon’s testimony to inquiry is put off, when will we get truth?
MSPs postpone appearance of First Minister after legal ruling
NICOLA Sturgeon’s appearance at the Holyrood inquiry examining a botched probe into complaints against Alex Salmond has been postponed following a legal ruling.
The First Minister was due to give evidence under oath on Tuesday – but this was delayed after an emergency meeting of the inquiry committee yesterday.
MSPs met in private to discuss the impact of a High Court ruling which will edit a court order made during Mr Salmond’s criminal trial last year.
The former First Minister’s team believe the move could allow evidence he submitted to the inquiry to be published – paving the way for him to appear in person.
He now plans to resubmit his written evidence to the committee on Monday, following a row over the publication of the document.
Last night, a Scottish parliament spokesman said: ‘At its meeting today, the committee was united in its desire to complete this inquiry in an open and transparent way, and to publish its report and recommendations next month.’
The inquiry faces a race against time to publish its findings, with parliament set to dissolve on March 25 ahead of the Holyrood elections.
The spokesman added: ‘Given the impact of the recent court judgment is not yet known, the committee has agreed that it must have the time to reflect on the impact on its work once the full written judgment is published early next week.
‘As a result, the committee has agreed that the First Minister’s evidence should be postponed until the full impact of that judgment is considered.
‘It is important for the committee to hear from Mr Salmond and the committee has always been clear that the First Minister should be the last witness to appear before the inquiry.’
Mr Salmond was due to appear before the inquiry last Tuesday.
However, the former leader of the SNP refused to speak to MSPs after officials said they would not publish his submission.
In it, he has accused Miss Sturgeon of making ‘simply untrue’ and ‘untenable’ claims about their meetings in 2018 where they discussed allegations against him.
The inquiry is examining the Government’s botched handling of harassment complaints made against Mr Salmond by two women.
He successfully challenged the investigation in court, with officials conceding that it had been unlawful and tainted by apparent bias.
Mr Salmond was awarded £512,000 of taxpayers’ cash in legal fees after it emerged the investigating officer had had prior contact with the complainants. It is understood Miss
Sturgeon may not give evidence until March 2, with MSPs hoping Mr Salmond could travel to the Scottish parliament the week after next.
The committee will meet next week to discuss Lady Dorrian’s judgment which is to be published in full.
The Spectator magazine went to the High Court on Thursday asking for the court order to be amended to give ‘comfort and
‘Must have the time to reflect’
clarity’ about what can and cannot be published in relation to the inquiry.
An amendment suggested by the publication’s lawyers was not taken forward, but Lady Dorrian suggested another, which was accepted by all, including the Crown Office.
The reasons for the change will be published next week. The Spectator’s lawyer said this could ‘be more important than the change’ itself.