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Crown Office raises 'concerns' over Alex Salmond papers Alex Salmond document revised over Crown Office concern
(about 2 hours later)
Mr Salmond has named people he alleges were attempting to damage his reputationMr Salmond has named people he alleges were attempting to damage his reputation
Scotland's prosecution service has raised "grave concerns" over the Scottish Parliament's decision to publish documents from Alex Salmond. The Scottish Parliament has published a revised version of submissions from Alex Salmond after the Crown Office raised "grave concerns" about it.
The papers name people Mr Salmond alleges were part of a "malicious" attempt to remove him from public life. Mr Salmond's papers named people he alleges were part of a "malicious" attempt to remove him from public life.
It is understood MSPs on the parliament's corporate body are meeting to discuss a letter that was sent by the Crown Office on Monday night. The parliament later removed one of the documents and republished it in another form.
The parliament has also asked the Crown Office to clarify its concerns. It came after MSPs on the parliament's corporate body met to discuss a letter that was sent by the Crown Office.
The documents were published ahead of Mr Salmond giving evidence to the inquiry that is investigating the Scottish government's botched handling of harassment complaints against him. The documents included claims from the former first minister that there had been a "complete breakdown of the necessary barriers which should exist between government, political party and the prosecution authorities".
They include claims from the former first minister that there has been a "complete breakdown of the necessary barriers which should exist between government, political party and the prosecution authorities".
Salmond alleges 'malicious' attempt to damage himSalmond alleges 'malicious' attempt to damage him
Sturgeon challenges Salmond over 'conspiracy' claimsSturgeon challenges Salmond over 'conspiracy' claims
What is the Salmond and Sturgeon row all about?What is the Salmond and Sturgeon row all about?
They had been published ahead of Mr Salmond's scheduled appearance before the inquiry that is investigating the Scottish government's botched handling of harassment complaints against him.
It is not yet known whether the evidence session on Wednesday will still happen.
The inquiry has been examining what went wrong with the government's internal investigation into the complaints.The inquiry has been examining what went wrong with the government's internal investigation into the complaints.
The government had to pay legal expenses of more than £500,000 to Mr Salmond after it admitted it had acted unlawfully during the investigation.The government had to pay legal expenses of more than £500,000 to Mr Salmond after it admitted it had acted unlawfully during the investigation.
Mr Salmond was later cleared of all 13 charges of sexual assault after a High Court trial last year.Mr Salmond was later cleared of all 13 charges of sexual assault after a High Court trial last year.
In a written submission to the inquiry ahead of his appearance on Wednesday, Mr Salmond claimed that there was "a deliberate, prolonged, malicious and concerted effort amongst a range of individuals within the Scottish government and the SNP to damage my reputation, even to the extent of having me imprisoned." In a written submission to the inquiry, Mr Salmond claimed that there was "a deliberate, prolonged, malicious and concerted effort amongst a range of individuals within the Scottish government and the SNP to damage my reputation, even to the extent of having me imprisoned."
Ms Sturgeon says claims of a conspiracy against Mr Salmond are untrueMs Sturgeon says claims of a conspiracy against Mr Salmond are untrue
They include Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell, who is the chief executive of the SNP, and Ms Sturgeon's chief of staff, Liz Lloyd. The people named by Mr Salmond include Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell, who is the chief executive of the SNP, and Ms Sturgeon's chief of staff, Liz Lloyd.
Mr Salmond has also accused Ms Sturgeon, who succeeded him as first minister and party leader, of misleading parliament and breaching the ministerial code.Mr Salmond has also accused Ms Sturgeon, who succeeded him as first minister and party leader, of misleading parliament and breaching the ministerial code.
The code states that ministers who knowingly mislead parliament would be expected to resign.The code states that ministers who knowingly mislead parliament would be expected to resign.
Ms Sturgeon, who is expected to give evidence to the inquiry next week, has denied the allegations and told BBC Scotland that there was "not a shred of evidence" to back up claims of a conspiracy against Mr Salmond.Ms Sturgeon, who is expected to give evidence to the inquiry next week, has denied the allegations and told BBC Scotland that there was "not a shred of evidence" to back up claims of a conspiracy against Mr Salmond.
'Rule of law' Alex Salmond's submissions to the Holyrood inquiry lay out his version of events.
Mr Salmond also claims in his written submission that the Crown Office is "not fit for purpose" under its current leadership. They were paving the way for him to appear in front of the committee and give evidence in person - something Mr Salmond had said he would not do that unless his evidence was published.
He wants his side of the story put on the record and is concerned because unless the statements are published the committee cannot refer to them in their findings.
The committee is publishing a revised version. But will enough of what Mr Salmond wants to say be in that version to allow him to give evidence tomorrow?
Mr Salmond also claims in his written submission that the Crown Office - Scotland's prosecution service - is "not fit for purpose" under its current leadership.
And he said there had been a "complete breakdown of the necessary barriers which should exist between government, political party and indeed the prosecution authorities in any country which abides by the rule of law."And he said there had been a "complete breakdown of the necessary barriers which should exist between government, political party and indeed the prosecution authorities in any country which abides by the rule of law."
He added: "The real cost to the Scottish people runs into many millions of pounds and yet no-one in this entire process has uttered the simple words which are necessary on occasions to renew and refresh democratic institutions - 'I Resign'.He added: "The real cost to the Scottish people runs into many millions of pounds and yet no-one in this entire process has uttered the simple words which are necessary on occasions to renew and refresh democratic institutions - 'I Resign'.
"The committee now has the opportunity to address that position.""The committee now has the opportunity to address that position."
MSPs on the inquiry committee previously voted against publishing Mr Salmond's submission, before the parliament's corporate body later concluded that "on balance" it would be possible for the document to be published.MSPs on the inquiry committee previously voted against publishing Mr Salmond's submission, before the parliament's corporate body later concluded that "on balance" it would be possible for the document to be published.
Ms Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, is among those Mr Salmond has accused of attempting to damage his reputationMs Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, is among those Mr Salmond has accused of attempting to damage his reputation
Responding to the publication of the documents on Monday night, a Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) spokesman said it took seriously its responsibility to uphold the law and to protect the dignity and rights of "all those who come into contact with COPFS".Responding to the publication of the documents on Monday night, a Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) spokesman said it took seriously its responsibility to uphold the law and to protect the dignity and rights of "all those who come into contact with COPFS".
He added that Scotland's prosecutors had acted "independently and in the public interest at all times" in relation to the case.He added that Scotland's prosecutors had acted "independently and in the public interest at all times" in relation to the case.
An additional written submission to the inquiry by Ms Lloyd said she rejected the conspiracy allegation in "its entirety" and was not "substantiated by any evidence and is founded on a number of claims, that are false".An additional written submission to the inquiry by Ms Lloyd said she rejected the conspiracy allegation in "its entirety" and was not "substantiated by any evidence and is founded on a number of claims, that are false".
An SNP spokesman said: "This is just more assertion without a shred of credible evidence.An SNP spokesman said: "This is just more assertion without a shred of credible evidence.
"Several of the women have already made clear how utterly absurd it is to suggest they were part of a conspiracy to bring him down. And yet Alex Salmond is still making these ridiculous and baseless claims and lashing out at all and sundry.""Several of the women have already made clear how utterly absurd it is to suggest they were part of a conspiracy to bring him down. And yet Alex Salmond is still making these ridiculous and baseless claims and lashing out at all and sundry."