The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Top civil servant denies being ‘at war’ with ex-FM
Evans tells MSPs she knew of rumours about conduct of Scotland’s former first minister
Scotland’s most senior civil servant admitted she knew of rumours about Alex Salmond’s conduct but denied she was “at war” with the former first minister.
Appearing in front of the Salmond inquiry for the second time, Leslie Evans also told MSPs around 10 employees had expressed concerns about their treatment in government. Two went on to make formal complaints.
Ms Evans said the officials were concerned about their “treatment” and “experience” in government but did not specify who or what had caused their disquiet.
The permanent secretary also spoke of her own experience of heated conversations with ministers but was unable to recall if Mr Salmond had ever shouted at her.
Mr Salmond has denied allegations of bullying and harassment made against him.
Ms Evans was also challenged on a text she sent following the collapse of the Scottish Government’s case at judicial review, which stated: “We may have lost the battle, but we will win the war.”
Her reappearance in front of the Salmond inquiry was also eagerly anticipated given her refusal to comment last time whn asked about claims that female civil servants were advised against working alone with the ex-SNP leader.
Second time around, Ms Evans was asked a similar question in a different format. The permanent secretary said she was “not aware” of any changes in working practices that arose as a result of concerns raised by staff about the behaviour of ministers.
Ms Evans was asked by Liberal Democrat committee member Alex Cole-Hamilton when she first knew of rumours about Mr Salmond’s behaviour
Ms Evans replied by saying she could not comment on when she picked up on them, before adding: “I understand there were rumours” before confirming she knew about them.
Earlier, Tory MSP Murdo Fraser asked her if she had ever experienced “bullying behaviour” in her civil service career and if she had been on the “receiving end” of shouting from a minister.
She replied: “I think, over my career
as a whole, I have had people shout at me.
“I suspect there are very few people who haven’t and that includes the civil service.”
She added the instances should be put “in context” and were not a “daily occurrence”.
Ms Evans argued there was a “unique relationship” between civil servants and ministers.
She said: “It is unlike anything else. That’s not to say it doesn’t have conditions and criteria government, of course, for good behaviour.
“But I think if you’d asked anybody who’d worked in any organisation: have you ever had a conversation with somebody else and has that ended up with some shouting? Not very often but it has happened. And understand that people are passionate, committed and hard-working in the civil service and with the ministers I have worked with as well.
“I think there is a line to be drawn and I would draw it between passion, commitment and the occasional losing of temper and where behaviour
crosses that line – that’s different.”
A crucial part of the inquiry is the role played by Judith MacKinnon, the investigating officer who led the Scottish Government’s internal inquiry into the claims against Mr Salmond, which he later successfully challenged in court.
Ms MacKinnon had been in prior contact with his accusers, even though the investigation was supposed to have been independent – leading to the court concluding the process had been “tainted by apparent bias”.
Mr Cole-Hamilton told the inquiry Ms MacKinnon met those expressing concern and “subsequently revealed to a potential complainer the existence of other possible complainers”.
Ms Evans said she was unaware that happened but added that it was “not unusual” for people to be told other complaints could be coming forward.
Mr Cole-Hamilton then asked the permanent secretary if, in retrospect, this could be seen as “something of a fishing expedition”.
Ms Evans replied: “It is so important we get this absolutely on the record. There was no fishing expedition.”