The First Minister’s opening statement

Below is an edited version of Nicola Sturgeon’s opening statement to the committee.

THE spotlight shone on historic workplace harassment in late 2017 was long overdue.

It was absolutely right at that time for my government to review its processes, consider any weaknesses and gaps in them, and put in place a procedure that would allow complaints, including those of a historic nature, to be investigated.

When complaints were made about Alex Salmond it was also absolutely right that the Government took them seriously and subjected them to investigation.

An individual’s profile, status or connections should not result in complaints of this nature being ignored or swept under the carpet.

That in this case it was a former first minister does not change that. The procedure that was adopted in late 2017, in the wake of the Metoo concerns, was drafted by civil servants, largely independently of me.

However, I was kept abreast of its development and I did sign it off.

As a result of a mistake that was made, a very serious mistake, in the investigation of the complaints against Alex Salmond, two women were failed and taxpayers’ money was lost. I deeply regret that.

Although I was not aware of the error at the time, I am the head of the Scottish Government, and so I want to take this opportunity to say sorry to the two women

involved and to the wider public. I also accept – without any reservation – that my actions deserve to be scrutinised.

Two years ago, I volunteered for such scrutiny by referring matters relating to my contact with Alex Salmond to the independent adviser on the ministerial code, James Hamilton. Mr Hamilton is conducting an independent investigation and I await his findings ...

So today, I will do my best to answer every question asked of me directly and in as much as detail as I can.

Firstly, on the 8 January 2019 I volunteered to Parliament my contact with Alex Salmond. I stated as follows: “On 2 April [2018], he informed me about the complaints against him ...” I will explain why I stand by that statement.

Second, I will set out why I did not immediately record the April 2 meeting within the Scottish Government – a decision based entirely on my desire to protect the independence and the confidentiality of the process.

Thirdly, I will outline why I believe it was right that I did not intervene in the investigation when I became aware of it, even though Alex Salmond asked me to do so.

And, finally, although the mistake made in the conduct of the investigation meant, ultimately, that the action for judicial review could not be defended, I will demonstrate that the decisions taken at each stage of it were legally sound ...

However, I want to focus, in these opening remarks, on the issues around my contact with Alex Salmond on 2 April – and my contact three days earlier with his former chief of staff.

Alex has claimed in his testimony to the committee that the meeting in my home on the 2 April took place with a shared understanding, on the part of all the participants, of the issues for discussion. In other words, that he turned up to the meeting believing I already knew everything.

I think it is worth noting, even just in passing that in fact, this represents a change in his position.

On 14 January 2019, after the conclusion of the judicial review, a spokesperson issued this comment on his behalf: “Alex has no certainty as to the state of knowledge of the First Minister before then” – by which he meant 2 April. A brief account of what happened on 2 April suggests – as per his comment in January 2019 – that he did not assume full knowledge on my part in advance.

When he arrived at my house he was insistent that he speak to me entirely privately – away from his former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein and Duncan Hamilton, who had accompanied him, and my chief of staff who was with me.

That would hardly have been necessary had there already been a shared understanding on the part of all of us. He then asked me to read a letter he had received from the Permanent Secretary.

This letter set out the fact that complaints of sexual harassment had been made against him by two individuals, made clear that these complaints were being investigated under the procedure adopted at the end of 2017, and it set out the details of what he was alleged to have done.

Reading this letter is a moment in my life that I will never forget.

And although he denied the allegations, he gave me his account of one of the incidents complained of, which he said he had apologised for at the time.

What he described constituted, in my view, deeply inappropriate behaviour on his part – perhaps another reason why that moment is embedded so strongly in my mind. At the time he was showing me the letter and outlining his account, Geoff and Duncan were doing the same with my chief of staff.

Again, this would seem unnecessary had she and I known everything in advance. Questions have been raised about a conversation I had three days earlier – on 29 March 2018 – with Geoff Aberdein and another individual ...

I have no wish to question the sincerity of Geoff’s recollection. Geoff Aberdeen is someone I remain extremely fond of, but it is clear that my recollection is different and that I did not and do not attach the same significance to that discussion that he has.

The purpose of the conversation seemed to be to persuade me to meet with Alex as soon as possible

– which I did agree to do. Geoff did indicate that a harassment-type issue had arisen, but my recollection is that he did so in general terms. Since an approach from Sky News in November 2017, I had harboured a lingering suspicion that such issues in relation to Mr Salmond might rear their head – so hearing of a potential issue would not have been, in itself, a massive shock.

What I recall most strongly about the conversation is how worried Geoff seemed to be about Alex’s welfare and state of mind – which, as a friend, concerned me.

He also said he thought Alex might be considering resigning his party membership. It was these factors that led me to meet him, and it was these factors that placed the meeting on 2 April firmly in the personal and party space.

Not unreasonably at all, some people have asked how I could have forgotten the conversation on 29 March. I certainly wish my memory of it was more vivid.

But as I have stated, it was the detail of the complaints under the procedure that I was given on 2 April that was significant and indeed shocking. That was the moment at which any suspicions I had or general awareness that there was a problem became actual knowledge. It is also worth saying that even if I had known on 29 March everything I learned on 2 April, my actions wouldn’t necessarily have been any different ... And, as I set out in written evidence, my decision not to record the meeting on 2 April wasn’t about the classification I gave it – it was because I did not want to compromise the independence or the confidentiality of the process that was under way.

Let me turn now to my decision not to immediately report the contact ... The terms of the procedure excluded me from any investigation into a former minister. I had no role in the process and should not even have known that an investigation was under way.

So, in my judgment, the undue influence that Section 4 is designed to avoid would have been more likely to arise had those conducting the investigation been informed that I knew about it. I didn’t want to take the risk that they might be influenced, even subconsciously,

by any assumption of how I might want the matter handled.

Their ability to do the job independently would be best protected by me saying nothing. It is also my reading of the code that had I reported it, the fact of my meeting with Alex Salmond would have had to be made public, potentially breaching the confidentiality of the process.

It was for those reasons that I did not immediately record the 2 April meeting or the subsequent phone call on 23 April in which Mr Salmond wanted me to tell the Permanent Secretary that I knew about the investigation and persuade her to agree to mediation ...

My judgment changed when Alex Salmond made it clear to me that he was seriously considering legal action. I felt I had no choice at that stage but to inform the Permanent Secretary, which I did on 6 June 2018. I also confirmed to her that I had no intention of intervening in the process. And I did not intervene in the process.

Mr Salmond’s anger at me for this is evident. But intervening in a process that I was expressly excluded from ... would have been an abuse of my role. The committee is also rightly interested in the judicial review and the Government has now published legal advice that informed the decisions we took.

It is clear from that advice that whilst the Government had very strong prospects of defending Mr Salmond’s initial challenge, that changed over a two-month period from late October to late December.

The concerns raised by counsel, caused by emerging evidence regarding the role of the investigating officer undoubtedly caused me and others to pause, and to check if we should continue to defend the case.

However, as late as December 11 the view of the law officers following consultation with counsel was as follows: “Very clear that no question or need to drop the case” ... They concluded that “... we have credible arguments to make across the petition.” It was when that changed, that the decision was taken to concede ...

Finally ... I feel I must rebut the absurd suggestion that anyone acted with malice or as part of a plot against Alex Salmond. That claim is not based in any fact. What happened is this and it is simple.

A number of women made serious complaints about Alex Salmond’s behaviour. The Government – despite the mistake it undoubtedly made – tried to do the right thing.

As First Minister, I refused to follow the age old pattern of allowing a powerful man to use his status and connections to get what he wants ...

For my part, I am relieved to be finally facing the committee, but given all that has brought us to this moment, being here also makes me really sad. In all the legitimate consideration of this, sometimes the personal and human elements of this situation are lost.

Alex spoke on Friday about what a nightmare the last couple of years have been for him and I don’t doubt that. I have thought often about the impact on him. He was someone I cared about for a long time.

And maybe that’s why, on Friday, I found myself searching for any sign – any sign at all – that he recognised how difficult this has been for others too.

First and foremost, for women who believed his behaviour towards them was inappropriate. But also for those of us who have campaigned with him, worked with him, cared for him and considered him a friend, and who now stand unfairly accused of plotting against him.

That he was acquitted by a jury of criminal conduct is beyond question. But I know, just from what he told me, that his behaviour was not always appropriate.

And yet, across six hours of testimony, there was not a single word of regret, reflection or even simple acknowledgement of that.

I can only hope that in private, the reality might be different.

Today, though, is about my actions. I have never claimed to be infallible. I have searched my soul on all of this many, many times over. It may very well be that I didn’t get everything right. That’s for others to judge.

But, in one of the most invidious political and personal situations I have ever faced, I believe I acted properly and appropriately and that overall I made the best judgments I could.

For anyone willing to at least listen with an open mind, that is what I will seek to demonstrate today.