Holyrood to launch inquiry into Salmond row

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/15/holyrood-to-launch-inquiry-into-salmond-row

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MSPs are to launch a special inquiry into the Scottish government’s handling of a botched investigation into claims of sexual harassment against Alex Salmond after the case collapsed in court last week.

Party leaders agreed to set up a cross-party committee, backed by Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, after a bitter row erupted over her private meetings with Salmond in which the government investigation was discussed.

Sturgeon has referred herself to an ethics inquiry conducted by an independent panel of two former prosecutors under the Scottish government’s ministerial code. Holyrood’s investigation, the first of this kind it has launched, could be delayed until after the ministerial code inquiry.

The controversy deepened on Tuesday as further questions were raised about the role of Sturgeon’s chief of staff, Liz Lloyd. It emerged that she initiated contacts with Salmond’s camp that led to the first meeting between him and Sturgeon at the first minister’s home on 2 April 2018.

Geoff Aberdein, Salmond’s chief of staff when he was first minister, confirmed he was the intermediary contacted by Lloyd in early March. He alleged that at a second meeting, in late March, several days before Sturgeon and Salmond met, Lloyd said she suspected Salmond was under formal investigation.

Here’s Geoff Aberdein’s full statement. pic.twitter.com/DwvT8LKBnG

Jackson Carlaw, the Scottish Conservatives’ interim leader, said Lloyd’s role had to be investigated. “Why was she speaking about this inquiry to third parties? Did she tell Nicola Sturgeon of her suspicions too? Or are we really to believe that Ms Sturgeon’s own chief of staff kept this from her?” Carlaw said.

“This scandal cannot be swept under the carpet. Parliament must, and now will, get the chance to probe this matter fully, learn lessons and ensure it can never happen again.”

Lloyd and Sturgeon’s private secretary, John Somers, a career civil servant, had been due to give evidence in court on the Salmond inquiry, until the government conceded last week that its inquiry was unlawful and tainted by the appearance of bias.

Questioned about the latest allegations, Sturgeon’s spokesman did not challenge Aberdein’s account. He could not give a clear answer on whether or not Lloyd’s alleged actions would be included in the ministerial code investigation into Sturgeon, saying that its remit had not yet been agreed.

The ministerial code does not cover special advisers such as Lloyd, but the spokesman suggested that could happen instead of Lloyd being investigated separately under the Scottish government’s code of conduct for special advisers.

That document states that special advisers must “not disclose official information which has been communicated in confidence in government or received in confidence from others”. Advisers are also subject to the civil service rules that state they cannot use “information acquired in the course of your official duties to further your private interests or those of others”.

Asked about Aberdein’s allegations about Lloyd’s role, Sturgeon’s spokesman accused Salmond’s team of orchestrating a “vendetta” against her but said she would be happy to cooperate with the ministerial code inquiry.

“I’m making the point that quite clearly there’s an agenda at play here in terms of Liz’s involvement,” the spokesman said. “That has been made abundantly clear by what has been briefed by the other side.”