First Minister accused of creating ‘bullies’ charter’ over probe into ex-minister

NICOLA Sturgeon has been accused of “creating a bullies’ charter” after using data protection laws to suggest the outcome of allegations against a former SNP minister may be kept secret.

In 2020, then rural economy and tourism secretary Fergus Ewing was the subject of a bullying complaint by civil servants. At the time, a spokesperson for Mr Ewing said the SNP MSP “completely rejects the claims”.

Reports suggest the investigation which was escalated into a formal process has now been completed – but the First Minister has refused to comment on the outcome, pointing to the rules around General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), fuelling the prospect that the result any bullying complaints may never be made public.

But outspoken SNP MP Joanna Cherry has called for the outcomes of any allegations in the public domand to be published.

Writing on Twitter, Ms Cherry said: “Bullying is a significant issue in politics. Of course all allegations should be investigated and, if the fact there is an allegation is in the public domain, the outcome of the investigation should be made public. That is only fair to all concerned.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar pressed the First Minister over the investigation into Mr Ewing.

In response at First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon insisted she was “not in a position to get into these issues” because she claimed there are “very considerable legal data protection issues that I am bound by”.

She added: “Governments have a duty of transparency, but governments also have a duty to abide by the law on privacy and on data protection.

“A complaint, by its nature, includes personal data of both the complainer and the person complained about. This personal information can only be made available outwith the narrow confines of the complaint if there is a lawful basis within GDPR to do so.

“Yes, there is a duty of transparency but there is also a duty to abide by the law.”

But Mr Sarwar stressed that “no-one is asking the First Minister to reveal confidential details” but said there is a need for the Government “to reveal the outcome” of the probe into Mr Ewing.

Mr Sarwar said: “It is indicative of a wider culture and the culture of secrecy and cover ups at the heart of this Government. Instead, the First Minister has hidden behind GDPR and refused to come clean over the outcome of the investigation into Fergus Ewing.

“This lack of transparency is creating a bullies’ charter and allowing senior officials off the hook.

“The fact that Nicola Sturgeon can’t escape from is that her government and the SNP operate in a culture of secrecy and cover up.”

Mr Ewing could not be located for comment.