‘Bullying’ not discussed, says ex-civil servant

The most senior civil servant in Alex Salmond’s government has said he did not discuss any “bullying and intimidatory” behaviour by the former first minister with Nicola Sturgeon.

Sir Peter Housden was the Scottish Government’s permanent secretary between 2010 and 2015, a period that overlapped with Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon’s spells as first minister.

In his evidence to the Salmond inquiry last month, Sir Peter told MSPs Mr Salmond could display “bullying and intimidatory behaviour” when he was first minister.

The former permanent secretary refused to answer repeated questions on whether he had told Ms Sturgeon – then the deputy first minister – about concerns over any ministers’ behaviour during his time in the Scottish Government.

Sir Peter also told the inquir y there was “no indication” at any stage during his time in the Scottish Government, or before, of suggestions of “sexual misconduct” involving Mr Salmond.

When pressed on whether he had spoken to Ms Sturgeon, Sir Peter said he was “unable to go into the specifics in terms of individuals” because he had a duty of confidentiality to ministers under civil service codes.

The inquiry wrote to him last week challenging this as an “overly cautious” interpretation of the codes, and asked him to clarify if he discussed Mr Salmond’s conduct with Ms Sturgeon.

Sir Peter replied saying: “You have asked me to respond to the following question: ‘ Whether you had raised harassment concerns that you were aware of in relation to the then first minister, Alex Salmond, with the then deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon’.

“I can confirm that I was not aware of any harassment concerns and so did not discuss any with Ms Sturgeon. While your letter refers only to ‘ harassment concerns’, for the avoidance of doubt, I did not discuss any ‘ bullying and intimidatory’ behaviour by Mr Salmond with Ms Sturgeon, either.”

Sir Peter’s letter was published by the Scottish Parliament committee overseeing the Salmond inquiry, which was set up to examine the Scottish Government’s handling of complaints made against the former SNP leader.

The inquiry was established after Mr Salmond mounted a successful legal challenge against the Scottish Government in the civil courts.

The Scottish Government was forced to pay out more than £ 500,000 for Mr Salmond’s legal costs after a judicial review found the Scottish Government ’ s investigation into the former first minister ’ s behaviour was tainted with apparent bias.

In a separate criminal case, Mr Salmond was cleared of all charges against him in a sexual assault trial earlier this year.

Sir Peter’s letter came to light as the Scottish Conservatives called on MSPs to back calls for the Scottish Government to release the legal advice it received for Mr Salmond’s civil judicial review.

Tory MSP Oliver Mundell has submitted a motion that reads: “The parliament call son the Scottish Government to publish the legal advice it received regarding the judicial review on the investigation of Alex Salmond’s alleged behaviour.”

If a majority of MSPs indicate they are willing to support the motion, the Scottish Conservatives will seek to bring forward a full parliament debate and vote calling on the government to release the legal advice.

Mr Mundell said: “When he called for a judge- led inquiry on this matter, which the Scottish Conservatives support, the SNP MSP Alex Neil said ‘ this is a matter that rises above party politics’.

“We agree, so we are calling for cross- par ty support from MSPs to back our motion and ask the Scottish Government to publish the legal advice they received for the Alex Salmond judicial review.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Successive Scottish and UK governments have not disclosed the source or content of legal advice other than in the most exceptional circumstances.

“Legal privilege is inherent to the functioning of good government and the rule of law. It’ s important that the legal advice which ministers and their officials receive is full and frank, and not affected by concerns about it subsequently becoming public.

“We are committed to cooperating fully with the inquiry and we are providing the relevant information requested by the committee within the confidentiality, data protection and other legal restrictions that apply.”

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former first minister Alex Salmond mounted a successful legal challenge against the Scottish Government.