The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Sturgeon refers Salmond talks to ethics watchdog
Probe: First minister had not disclosed meetings
Nicola Sturgeon has referred herself to a ministerial watchdog after questions were raised surrounding her conduct during the Alex Salmond sexual misconduct case.
The first minister has come under increasing pressure to refer herself to the panel from opposition politicians after it emerged she had met and spoken with Mr Salmond several times after two civil servants made allegations against him last year.
It comes after a criminal investigation was launched against her government amid claims there was an unauthorised disclosure to a tabloid newspaper.
The first minister has been heavily criticised after admitting that she did not notify the civil service of three meetings with Mr Salmond.
At one of these meetings at her home in Glasgow, taxpayer-funded special adviser Liz Lloyd had been present.
Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government employee was there despite claiming the meeting, at which Mr Salmond notified her of the complaints made against him, was in her role as SNP leader.
The first minister also admitted that she did not inform the head of the Scottish civil service, Leslie Evans, of the meeting on April 2 until she had another meeting with Mr Salmond two months later.
Yesterday the first minister confirmed she had taken the step and also released an official statement in which she said she had acted “appropriately and in good faith throughout”, but acknowledged it was important to reassure Parliament and the wider public.
The statement added: “The fact remains that at the centre of this issue are two women whose complaints could not be swept under the carpet. Any continuing commentary about these issues at this stage – whether from myself, the government or Mr Salmond and his representatives – would only serve to distract from and potentially compromise the proper consideration by the police of the subject matter of their investigation. That is something we will not do.”
The rules state that if ministers “find themselves discussing official business” while at a non-government event such as a social occasion, they should make a record of it.
Meanwhile, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has written to Mr Salmond’s team to advise them that a criminal inquiry had now been launched into the potential newspaper leak.
Under data protection legislation, it would be a criminal offence if someone “knowingly or recklessly” obtained or disclosed personal data without the consent of the “data controller”, which would be the Scottish Government in this case.