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| Nicola Sturgeon gives evidence to Alex Salmond inquiry amid calls to resign - live updates | Nicola Sturgeon gives evidence to Alex Salmond inquiry amid calls to resign - live updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow live updates as Scotland’s first minister appears before MSPs, amid multiple allegations that she broke the ministerial code | Follow live updates as Scotland’s first minister appears before MSPs, amid multiple allegations that she broke the ministerial code |
| Watt asks if, during the drawing up of the new procedure, Sturgeon was aware of allegations against current or former ministers? | |
| Sturgeon says not initially but then a media organisation - Sky - made her aware of allegations against the former first minister but it did not influence her behaviour. | |
| Should the procedures have been debated in parliament? | |
| Watt says incidents were handled informally in the past, for example staff being moved on so they didn’t have to work with the person they were accusing or an apology was made. Was that appropriate, she asks? | |
| Sometimes it could be appropriate, Sturgeon says but she expresses concern that there may have been an over-reliance on informal procedures given that some complaints appear not to have come to her. | |
| Why is there a difference in that mediation is open to current minister under fairness at work but was not available to former ministers under the new procedures, Watt asks? | |
| Sturgeon says former ministers could not be investigated under the old fairness at work policy. She says with a current minister they will still be in the workplace, possibly working together so mediation may be appropriate. | |
| Watt says the pre-existing fairness at work policy took about 18 months to be developed but the new procedures, under which Salmond was investigated, were drawn up in a much shorter timeframe. | |
| Sturgeon said they wanted to do it quickly, no cutting corners or inappropriately. It was done with trade union involvement and 18 months would have been too long. | |
| Maureen Watt, SNP, asks why a new procedure was deemed necessary to investigation allegations such as those made against Salmond. | |
| Sturgeon says Salmond’s evidence struck her as saying there should not have been procedures that allowed him to be investigated. Sturgeon says given the MeToo movement, organisations the world over were reviewing their procedures. Allowing historic allegations to be investigated - the policy applied retrospectively - was “appropriate”. | |
| Mitchell asks Sturgeon if she was aware there were complaints made by females. You set yourself up as a champion for women yet didn’t pay much attention to complaints. | |
| Sturgeon says she was not aware of allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour by Alex Salmond. | |
| Mitchell refers to five SNP ministers. | |
| Sturgeon says she is not aware of what Mitchell is referring to. | |
| Mitchell says we are aware of approaches by around 30 women in reference to five SNP ministerial offices. | |
| Sturgeon says they were not brought to her at the time under the fairness at work policy. | |
| Asked by Mitchell what went wrong, Sturgeon repeats that the government made “a mistake, a very serious mistake” in how it handled the investigation into Alex Salmond. | |
| She says the legal advice shows the Scottish government was confident of defending the judicial review brought by Salmond and that if it were not for the mistake, we do not know who would have won the review. | |
| Margaret Mitchell continues. Openness, transparency and accountability are essential but the deputy first minister has refused to release details of the government’s legal costs for the judicial review. He also refused to reveal the legal advice until last night. Mitchell says some information crucial to the inquiry has still not been received. Is that acceptable? | |
| Sturgeon does not accept that characterisation. She repeats that the government has handed over “substantial” amounts of information. She says not all material is within the control of the government. | |
| Sturgeon says she has suffered her own frustrations, having been waiting a long time to give evidence while allegations were swirling about. She also says documents said to be damning have not proved as such when released. | |
| Margaret Mitchell, Scottish Conservatives, says that when the inquiry was announced in January 2019 Sturgeon said the government would provide any material requested. Why didn’t that happen? | |
| Sturgeon says she considers that did happen. “Copious amounts of information”, have been made available. The main issue of difference between the committee and the government is legal advice and there is a longstanding convention that governments do not release legal advice, the first minister says. | Sturgeon says she considers that did happen. “Copious amounts of information”, have been made available. The main issue of difference between the committee and the government is legal advice and there is a longstanding convention that governments do not release legal advice, the first minister says. |
| Sturgeon says that her judgment on informing the permanent secretary of her meetings with Salmond changed when it became clear Salmond was seriously considering legal action against the government. | Sturgeon says that her judgment on informing the permanent secretary of her meetings with Salmond changed when it became clear Salmond was seriously considering legal action against the government. |
| Regarding to the legal advice published last night, Sturgeon says that as late as 11 December 2018 lawyers were saying there was credible evidence to challenge the judicial review. This only changed at a later date (presumably when the government conceded the case), she says. | Regarding to the legal advice published last night, Sturgeon says that as late as 11 December 2018 lawyers were saying there was credible evidence to challenge the judicial review. This only changed at a later date (presumably when the government conceded the case), she says. |
| Sturgeon says the claim that anyone acted with malice against Salmond “is not based on any fact”. | Sturgeon says the claim that anyone acted with malice against Salmond “is not based on any fact”. |
| She says she is relieved to be finally facing the committee but it also makes her sad because the human elements of this situation have been lost. | She says she is relieved to be finally facing the committee but it also makes her sad because the human elements of this situation have been lost. |
| Salmond was someone “I cared about for a long time”, says the first minister. | Salmond was someone “I cared about for a long time”, says the first minister. |
| She said watching her predecessor on Friday she looked for evidence of him acknowledging the human impact on others. | She said watching her predecessor on Friday she looked for evidence of him acknowledging the human impact on others. |
| Sturgeon says there was no recognition of that during Salmond’s evidence to the committee. | Sturgeon says there was no recognition of that during Salmond’s evidence to the committee. |
| She ends by defending her own actions. | She ends by defending her own actions. |
| The first minister says at the 2 April 2018 meeting with Alex Salmond, he shared a letter with her setting out the allegations against him. He shared details of one incident which she viewed as highly inappropriate. | The first minister says at the 2 April 2018 meeting with Alex Salmond, he shared a letter with her setting out the allegations against him. He shared details of one incident which she viewed as highly inappropriate. |
| Regarding her meeting with Geoff Aberdein, Salmond’s chief of staff, on 29 March 2018, Sturgeon says her recollection is different from Aberdein’s and he talked about harassment allegations against Salmond in general terms. | Regarding her meeting with Geoff Aberdein, Salmond’s chief of staff, on 29 March 2018, Sturgeon says her recollection is different from Aberdein’s and he talked about harassment allegations against Salmond in general terms. |
| She says the specifics of the allegations were only detailed to her on 2 April and that is when they became real and shocking to her. | She says the specifics of the allegations were only detailed to her on 2 April and that is when they became real and shocking to her. |
| Sturgeon said she did not record details of the meeting on 2 April because she did not want to undermine the confidentiality of the process that was under way. | Sturgeon said she did not record details of the meeting on 2 April because she did not want to undermine the confidentiality of the process that was under way. |
| Sturgeon takes the oath and begins her opening statement. | Sturgeon takes the oath and begins her opening statement. |
| She says the spotlight shone on workplace harassment in late 2017 was long coming and it was right for the Scottish government to review its processes. | She says the spotlight shone on workplace harassment in late 2017 was long coming and it was right for the Scottish government to review its processes. |
| She says it was correct to investigate Alex Salmond, regardless of his status. | She says it was correct to investigate Alex Salmond, regardless of his status. |
| She says as a result of a “very serious mistake” in the investigation into Salmond, two women were failed. | She says as a result of a “very serious mistake” in the investigation into Salmond, two women were failed. |
| Sturgeon acknowledges that it is right for her role to come under scrutiny and says she will do her best to answer all questions in detail. | Sturgeon acknowledges that it is right for her role to come under scrutiny and says she will do her best to answer all questions in detail. |
| The committee hearing has commenced. It is convened by the SNP’s Linda Fabiani who is just setting out the background and rules.I have already mentioned Salmond’s lawyer, Duncan Hamilton. Other key characters whose names are likely to come up in the committee hearing, include | The committee hearing has commenced. It is convened by the SNP’s Linda Fabiani who is just setting out the background and rules.I have already mentioned Salmond’s lawyer, Duncan Hamilton. Other key characters whose names are likely to come up in the committee hearing, include |
| Peter Murrell, Sturgeon’s husband and chief executive of the SNP. | Peter Murrell, Sturgeon’s husband and chief executive of the SNP. |
| Leslie Evans, permanent secretary to the Scottish government. | Leslie Evans, permanent secretary to the Scottish government. |
| Geoff Aberdein, former chief of staff to Salmond. | Geoff Aberdein, former chief of staff to Salmond. |
| Liz Lloyd, chief of staff to Sturgeon. | Liz Lloyd, chief of staff to Sturgeon. |
| James Wolffe, QC, lord advocate. | James Wolffe, QC, lord advocate. |
| Judith MacKinnon, HR specialist and investigating officer. | Judith MacKinnon, HR specialist and investigating officer. |
| Barbara Allison, former director of people for the Scottish government. | Barbara Allison, former director of people for the Scottish government. |
| The legal advice to the Scottish government on the judicial review into the government’s investigation into allegations of harassment against Salmond can be read in full here. | The legal advice to the Scottish government on the judicial review into the government’s investigation into allegations of harassment against Salmond can be read in full here. |
| The letter from Salmond’s lawyer is here (pdf). | The letter from Salmond’s lawyer is here (pdf). |
| The Scottish Conservatives have just set out plans to hold votes of no confidence in the deputy first minister, John Swinney, and the first minister Nicola Sturgeon. | The Scottish Conservatives have just set out plans to hold votes of no confidence in the deputy first minister, John Swinney, and the first minister Nicola Sturgeon. |
| The party will propose a vote of no confidence in Swinney is held today to try to force the government into publishing the remaining legal advice. The Scottish Conservatives say the advice published last night contained only excerpts and key evidence had clearly been omitted. | The party will propose a vote of no confidence in Swinney is held today to try to force the government into publishing the remaining legal advice. The Scottish Conservatives say the advice published last night contained only excerpts and key evidence had clearly been omitted. |
| They will also lodge a motion of no confidence in Sturgeon today and seek to hold the vote itself very soon after the legal advice has been published, they say. | They will also lodge a motion of no confidence in Sturgeon today and seek to hold the vote itself very soon after the legal advice has been published, they say. |
| The Scottish Conservative leader, Douglas Ros,s said: | The Scottish Conservative leader, Douglas Ros,s said: |
| Good morning. Welcome to live coverage of Nicola Sturgeon’s critical appearance before a committee of MSPs to give evidence on oath on the Scottish government’s unlawful inquiry into complaints against her predecessor, Alex Salmond. | Good morning. Welcome to live coverage of Nicola Sturgeon’s critical appearance before a committee of MSPs to give evidence on oath on the Scottish government’s unlawful inquiry into complaints against her predecessor, Alex Salmond. |
| The pressure on the first minister intensified last night when confidential legal advice was released showing Scottish government lawyers had warned Sturgeon and other senior members of her administration that they were likely to lose the judicial review that Salmond launched in August 2018 to investigate its handling of harassment claims against him. The government continued its defence nevertheless. | The pressure on the first minister intensified last night when confidential legal advice was released showing Scottish government lawyers had warned Sturgeon and other senior members of her administration that they were likely to lose the judicial review that Salmond launched in August 2018 to investigate its handling of harassment claims against him. The government continued its defence nevertheless. |
| In a letter to a Holyrood committee, also put out last night, one of Salmond’s lawyers, Duncan Hamilton, backed up several claims made by his client during more than six hours of testimony to the committee on Friday. The letter contains evidence from two witnesses calling into question Sturgeon’s version of events of what she knew and when. | In a letter to a Holyrood committee, also put out last night, one of Salmond’s lawyers, Duncan Hamilton, backed up several claims made by his client during more than six hours of testimony to the committee on Friday. The letter contains evidence from two witnesses calling into question Sturgeon’s version of events of what she knew and when. |
| Salmond has accused his one time protege and close friend, of breaking the ministerial code - a charge she has already denied - on multiple occasions. | Salmond has accused his one time protege and close friend, of breaking the ministerial code - a charge she has already denied - on multiple occasions. |
| It’s a complex story but you can read a comprehensive account of the background here. | It’s a complex story but you can read a comprehensive account of the background here. |
| In brief, it relates to the way the Scottish government investigated allegations of harassment against Alex Salmond. The high court later cleared him of allegations of sexual misconduct. | In brief, it relates to the way the Scottish government investigated allegations of harassment against Alex Salmond. The high court later cleared him of allegations of sexual misconduct. |
| In 2019, the Scottish government admitted defeat in the aforementioned judicial review into how it handled the investigations, conceding that it had acted unlawfully and paying more than £512,000 to cover his legal costs. | In 2019, the Scottish government admitted defeat in the aforementioned judicial review into how it handled the investigations, conceding that it had acted unlawfully and paying more than £512,000 to cover his legal costs. |
| This timeline is very useful for understanding what happened when: | This timeline is very useful for understanding what happened when: |
| Sturgeon will begin her evidence at approximately 9am. Here is her written submission to the committee (pdf). | Sturgeon will begin her evidence at approximately 9am. Here is her written submission to the committee (pdf). |
| Here is a useful guide to some of the key questions she is likely to face: | Here is a useful guide to some of the key questions she is likely to face: |
| In brief, they are: | In brief, they are: |
| When did she first learn of concerns about Alex Salmond’s alleged behaviour? | When did she first learn of concerns about Alex Salmond’s alleged behaviour? |
| Why did she agree to meet Salmond and to continue talking to him? | Why did she agree to meet Salmond and to continue talking to him? |
| Did she offer to intervene on Salmond’s behalf at the first meeting? | Did she offer to intervene on Salmond’s behalf at the first meeting? |
| Why did Sturgeon take so long to inform the civil service she had met Salmond? | Why did Sturgeon take so long to inform the civil service she had met Salmond? |
| Did she go against legal advice to abandon the case against Salmond? If so, why? | Did she go against legal advice to abandon the case against Salmond? If so, why? |
| What she knew, if anything, about the alleged leak of the name of a complainer against Salmond to the former first minister? | What she knew, if anything, about the alleged leak of the name of a complainer against Salmond to the former first minister? |