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| Alistair Carmichael legal challenge set to continue | Alistair Carmichael legal challenge set to continue |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The next stage of the legal challenge to Alistair Carmichael's election as MP for Orkney and Shetland is due to resume later. | The next stage of the legal challenge to Alistair Carmichael's election as MP for Orkney and Shetland is due to resume later. |
| The election court will hear evidence from six witnesses over four days. | The election court will hear evidence from six witnesses over four days. |
| Four constituents raised the action under the Representation of the People Act 1983. | Four constituents raised the action under the Representation of the People Act 1983. |
| They claim the Lib Dem MP misled voters over a memo claiming SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon would rather have seen David Cameron become prime minister. | They claim the Lib Dem MP misled voters over a memo claiming SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon would rather have seen David Cameron become prime minister. |
| Legal argument was heard at a special election court in Edinburgh in September. | Legal argument was heard at a special election court in Edinburgh in September. |
| The case is believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland for 50 years. | The case is believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland for 50 years. |
| It arose from a story in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, at the start of the general election campaign in April. | It arose from a story in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, at the start of the general election campaign in April. |
| Full responsibility | Full responsibility |
| Mr Carmichael - Scottish secretary in the Tory-Lib Dem coalition before the election and now his party's only MP in Scotland - had authorised the leaking of a civil service memo, suggesting Ms Sturgeon had told the French ambassador she wanted David Cameron to remain in Downing Street. | |
| He claimed in a TV interview the first he had heard of it was when he received a phone call from a reporter. | He claimed in a TV interview the first he had heard of it was when he received a phone call from a reporter. |
| However, the MP then admitted full responsibility for sanctioning its release, and accepted the details of the account were not correct. | However, the MP then admitted full responsibility for sanctioning its release, and accepted the details of the account were not correct. |
| The petitioners argue his actions call into question his integrity as an individual and his suitability to represent the constituency at Westminster. | The petitioners argue his actions call into question his integrity as an individual and his suitability to represent the constituency at Westminster. |
| Judges ruled last month the legal challenge could proceed. | Judges ruled last month the legal challenge could proceed. |
| September's hearing was broadcast and streamed live online. The evidence from these latest six witnesses will not be broadcast, but the lawyers' closing statements may be. | September's hearing was broadcast and streamed live online. The evidence from these latest six witnesses will not be broadcast, but the lawyers' closing statements may be. |
| The two judges, Lady Paton and Lord Matthews, will present their judgement to the House of Commons at a later date. | The two judges, Lady Paton and Lord Matthews, will present their judgement to the House of Commons at a later date. |