Salmond side steps offer to apologise

During yesterday’s hearing, Alex Salmond was asked if he wanted to say "sorry" for behaviours he had previously admitted - with Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-hamilton saying some of these were "appalling".

But Mr Salmond said he was "resting" on the verdicts of two courts cases – the Court of Session finding the Scottish Government's handling of complaints against him to be illegal and the criminal case at the High Court in Edinburgh at which he was cleared of 13 charges of sexual assault.

Mr Salmond said the "Government's illegality has had huge consequences for a number of people".

And he stated: "Over the last three years, there have been two court cases, two judges and a jury, and I'm resting on the proceedings of these cases.

He also insisted "some consequences" should follow from the "unlawful conduct" in the way it handled harassment allegations against him.

MSPS investigating the Scottish government's handling of complaints against Alex Salmond are next week expected to hear from their final witnesses.

At the start of the week the committee is to hear from the Lord Advocate James Wolffe on Monday,

Then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon - who will be the final witness - appears on Wednesday.

Ms Sturgeon has denied there was any conspiracy against Mr Salmond, and has said she is "relishing" the prospect of giving evidence to the committee next week.

Answering questions from journalists at her daily coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, the First Minister said: "I don't think there is a shred of evidence behind those allegations and the claims that have been made".

Ms Sturgeon is scheduled to appear on Wednesday.