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Alistair Carmichael MP's election to be challenged in court Alistair Carmichael MP's election being challenged in court
(34 minutes later)
A legal challenge over the election of Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael as Orkney and Shetland MP is due to be heard in Edinburgh. A legal challenge over the election of Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael as Orkney and Shetland MP is being heard in Edinburgh.
Four of Mr Carmichael's constituents have raised the case.Four of Mr Carmichael's constituents have raised the case.
They say he misled the electorate over a memo which claimed SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon wanted David Cameron to be re-elected prime minister.They say he misled the electorate over a memo which claimed SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon wanted David Cameron to be re-elected prime minister.
The court service reached an agreement with STV to enable the hearing to be streamed live on the internet.The court service reached an agreement with STV to enable the hearing to be streamed live on the internet.
BBC Scotland will also stream the Election Court proceedings. BBC Scotland is also streaming the Election Court proceedings.
Mr Carmichael is not in court.
He is represented by Roddy Dunlop QC, who began by asking the court to dismiss the petition, saying it was "irrelevant" and "bound to fail".
The case, believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland for 50 years, arose from remarks made by Mr Carmichael during the general election campaign.The case, believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland for 50 years, arose from remarks made by Mr Carmichael during the general election campaign.
He authorised leaking a civil service memo suggesting the first minister had told the French ambassador she backed Mr Cameron to remain in Downing Street.He authorised leaking a civil service memo suggesting the first minister had told the French ambassador she backed Mr Cameron to remain in Downing Street.
Has a case like this taken place before?Has a case like this taken place before?
This is the first parliamentary election petition to be brought in Scotland since the Grieve V Douglas-Home case of 1965.This is the first parliamentary election petition to be brought in Scotland since the Grieve V Douglas-Home case of 1965.
That saw Scottish poet Hugh MacDiarmid - who was born Christopher Murray Grieve - attempting to unseat former prime minister Alec Douglas-Home who at the time was MP for Kinross and West Perthshire.That saw Scottish poet Hugh MacDiarmid - who was born Christopher Murray Grieve - attempting to unseat former prime minister Alec Douglas-Home who at the time was MP for Kinross and West Perthshire.
MacDiarmid had claimed that the Conservative politician's election was void because he had participated in a national party election broadcast on behalf of the Conservative Party and had declared the costs of this on his election expenses.MacDiarmid had claimed that the Conservative politician's election was void because he had participated in a national party election broadcast on behalf of the Conservative Party and had declared the costs of this on his election expenses.
The court found that no offence had been committed, either by the candidate or the broadcaster.The court found that no offence had been committed, either by the candidate or the broadcaster.
Mr Carmichael had initially denied leaking the confidential memo to the Daily Telegraph.Mr Carmichael had initially denied leaking the confidential memo to the Daily Telegraph.
He claimed the first he had heard of it was when he received a phone call from a journalist.He claimed the first he had heard of it was when he received a phone call from a journalist.
However, the MP later admitted full responsibility for sanctioning its release, and accepted the "details of the account are not correct".However, the MP later admitted full responsibility for sanctioning its release, and accepted the "details of the account are not correct".
The constituents, who have brought the case through crowd-funding, said the MP's actions called into question his suitability to represent the constituency.The constituents, who have brought the case through crowd-funding, said the MP's actions called into question his suitability to represent the constituency.
Mr Carmichael's lawyers will argue Ms Sturgeon was not an election candidate, so he was not seeking to influence the outcome of the poll.Mr Carmichael's lawyers will argue Ms Sturgeon was not an election candidate, so he was not seeking to influence the outcome of the poll.
Last week, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service announced it had reached an agreement with broadcaster STV over coverage.Last week, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service announced it had reached an agreement with broadcaster STV over coverage.
It will be available on TV and online, allowing constituents to view proceedings. It is available on TV and online, allowing constituents to view proceedings.
STV has undertaken to share the live feed with all other media organisations wanting to broadcast the hearing. STV undertook to share the live feed with all other media organisations wanting to broadcast the hearing.