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SNP chief Peter Murrell to be recalled to Alex Salmond inquiry | SNP chief Peter Murrell to be recalled to Alex Salmond inquiry |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon have been married since 2010 | Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon have been married since 2010 |
SNP chief executive Peter Murrell will return to give more evidence to the inquiry into the government's handling of sexual harassment allegations against Alex Salmond on Monday. | SNP chief executive Peter Murrell will return to give more evidence to the inquiry into the government's handling of sexual harassment allegations against Alex Salmond on Monday. |
Mr Murrell, the husband of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, first appeared at the committee in December. | Mr Murrell, the husband of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, first appeared at the committee in December. |
However opposition MSPs believe he contradicted himself, and Ms Sturgeon, over some of the details. | However opposition MSPs believe he contradicted himself, and Ms Sturgeon, over some of the details. |
The Conservatives had threatened to trigger a vote on whether Ms Sturgeon misled Parliament if Mr Murrell did not reappear at the committee. | The Conservatives had threatened to trigger a vote on whether Ms Sturgeon misled Parliament if Mr Murrell did not reappear at the committee. |
The Holyrood inquiry was set up to review the government's handling of internal complaints against the former first minister after he successfully raised a legal challenge against its investigation processes. | The Holyrood inquiry was set up to review the government's handling of internal complaints against the former first minister after he successfully raised a legal challenge against its investigation processes. |
The government was forced to pay the former first minister more than £500,000 in legal expenses after it conceded its approach had been "unlawful" due to a procedural flaw. | The government was forced to pay the former first minister more than £500,000 in legal expenses after it conceded its approach had been "unlawful" due to a procedural flaw. |
Its agenda for Monday morning says it will discuss "division between Scottish government and party political matters". | |
Members have repeatedly complained that their work is being hindered by "obstruction" and "obfuscation" by key players. | Members have repeatedly complained that their work is being hindered by "obstruction" and "obfuscation" by key players. |
MSPs bid to recall SNP chief to Salmond inquiry | MSPs bid to recall SNP chief to Salmond inquiry |
SNP chief denies 'plotting downfall' of Alex Salmond | SNP chief denies 'plotting downfall' of Alex Salmond |
Ministers refuse to release Alex Salmond legal advice | Ministers refuse to release Alex Salmond legal advice |
The move largely centres on a meeting between Ms Sturgeon and her predecessor Mr Salmond at her Glasgow home, which she shares with Mr Murrell, on 2 April 2018. | The move largely centres on a meeting between Ms Sturgeon and her predecessor Mr Salmond at her Glasgow home, which she shares with Mr Murrell, on 2 April 2018. |
During this meeting, the first minister was told by her predecessor of complaints of harassment made against him. | During this meeting, the first minister was told by her predecessor of complaints of harassment made against him. |
Mr Murrell, who has been chief executive of the SNP since 2000 and married to Ms Sturgeon since 2010, told MSPs that he was at work at the time of the meeting. | Mr Murrell, who has been chief executive of the SNP since 2000 and married to Ms Sturgeon since 2010, told MSPs that he was at work at the time of the meeting. |
He said he had known not to press his wife for details because of her role as first minister. | He said he had known not to press his wife for details because of her role as first minister. |
Mr Murrell was pressed repeatedly about whether the meetings between Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond were SNP business, as the first minister has insisted, or government business - which would need to be officially recorded. | Mr Murrell was pressed repeatedly about whether the meetings between Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond were SNP business, as the first minister has insisted, or government business - which would need to be officially recorded. |
The inquiry is examining the Scottish government's botched handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond | The inquiry is examining the Scottish government's botched handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond |
He said that prior to the first meeting, Ms Sturgeon "thought it was a party matter", but that it then became clear that it was "a Scottish government matter". | He said that prior to the first meeting, Ms Sturgeon "thought it was a party matter", but that it then became clear that it was "a Scottish government matter". |
And he said he did not accept that this contradicted Ms Sturgeon's previous statements. | And he said he did not accept that this contradicted Ms Sturgeon's previous statements. |
This point is particularly important, Ms Sturgeon's opponents believe, because government meetings should be recorded in her diary and official notes should be taken - which did not happen. | This point is particularly important, Ms Sturgeon's opponents believe, because government meetings should be recorded in her diary and official notes should be taken - which did not happen. |
They argue that this suggests the first minister may have misled parliament and breached the ministerial code over her dealings with Mr Salmond - for which Ms Sturgeon would be expected to resign. | They argue that this suggests the first minister may have misled parliament and breached the ministerial code over her dealings with Mr Salmond - for which Ms Sturgeon would be expected to resign. |
'Nothing further to add' | 'Nothing further to add' |
Opposition MSPs say Mr Murrell first claimed not to know about the meeting beforehand, before later suggesting that he had known the day before. | Opposition MSPs say Mr Murrell first claimed not to know about the meeting beforehand, before later suggesting that he had known the day before. |
They also claim that Mr Murrell appeared to say he was not at home for the meeting, but then said he had returned home while it was ongoing. | They also claim that Mr Murrell appeared to say he was not at home for the meeting, but then said he had returned home while it was ongoing. |
Committee convener Linda Fabiani has previously sought clarity from Mr Murrell on the meeting. | Committee convener Linda Fabiani has previously sought clarity from Mr Murrell on the meeting. |
Responding to a letter from Ms Fabiani, Mr Murrell said Ms Sturgeon had mentioned the planned meeting the night before it took place. | Responding to a letter from Ms Fabiani, Mr Murrell said Ms Sturgeon had mentioned the planned meeting the night before it took place. |
He wrote: "My recollection is that Nicola mentioned to me on the Sunday evening that Mr Salmond would be visiting the next day, 2 April 2018. | He wrote: "My recollection is that Nicola mentioned to me on the Sunday evening that Mr Salmond would be visiting the next day, 2 April 2018. |
"I have nothing further to add to my written and oral evidence on this matter." | "I have nothing further to add to my written and oral evidence on this matter." |
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