‘Unprecedented’ legal action taken to obtain Salmond trial evidence

A committee investigating the Scottish Government’s handling of allegations against Alex Salmond has taken unprecedented legal action to obtain key evidence.

The MSPS have moved to invoke Section 23 of the Scotland Act to force prosecutors to hand over several documents from senior SNP and Scottish Government figures.

It is the first time a Holyrood committee has used the powers.

They are seeking messages sent by SNP chief operating officer Susan Ruddick, as well as civil servants and special advisers, between August 2018 and January 2019.

The committee is also asking to obtain documents relevant to the leaking of the allegations against Mr Salmond to a national newspaper in August 2018.

Convener Linda Fabiani said: “It was today agreed that the committee will

use its powers under Section 23 of the Scotland Act to require the Crown Office to produce a number of documents.

“This is a step that hasn’t been taken lightly, and is a first for this parliament, but which the committee felt was needed as it continues its vital work.”

The committee has given the Crown Office until January 29 to hand over the documents.

It has also written again to the Scottish Government, asking for the release of the legal advice from its external counsel.

Murdo Fraser, a Conservative member of the committee, said: “The committee has consistently been blocked from performing its remit by SNP ministers. The level of obstruction has been extraordinary.”

Labour committee member Jackie Baillie said: “This unprecedented action is necessary to cut through the web of secrecy that the Scottish Government has woven and to allow the committee to live up to its remit.”

Meanwhile, the committee has written to Mr Salmond to tell him that its timetable means it cannot take evidence from him any later than the week of February 1.

Alex Salmond.