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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Minister's blog row legal threat | Minister's blog row legal threat |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Scottish Education Secretary Mike Russell has threatened to sue his former constituency aide amid a row over internet attack blogging. | Scottish Education Secretary Mike Russell has threatened to sue his former constituency aide amid a row over internet attack blogging. |
| Mark MacLachlan quit his post in the South of Scotland MSP's office after it emerged he wrote a blog containing alleged smears about political rivals. | Mark MacLachlan quit his post in the South of Scotland MSP's office after it emerged he wrote a blog containing alleged smears about political rivals. |
| Mr MacLachlan has now suggested the minister knew about the blog, after insisting he had not. | Mr MacLachlan has now suggested the minister knew about the blog, after insisting he had not. |
| Mr Russell said any repetition of the claim would result in legal action. | Mr Russell said any repetition of the claim would result in legal action. |
| The education secretary, who has also referred the matter to the Scottish Parliamentary standards commissioner, issued his threat after Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray repeated Mr McLachlan's claim during first minister's questions. | The education secretary, who has also referred the matter to the Scottish Parliamentary standards commissioner, issued his threat after Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray repeated Mr McLachlan's claim during first minister's questions. |
| Brian TaylorPolitical editor To date, I have not troubled you with this story on this site - or, indeed, anywhere else. | Brian TaylorPolitical editor To date, I have not troubled you with this story on this site - or, indeed, anywhere else. |
| An error, no doubt, on my part but I felt that minor matters like the state of the economy might command more public interest. | An error, no doubt, on my part but I felt that minor matters like the state of the economy might command more public interest. |
| I only raise it now because Iain Gray chose to major on this topic in questioning the first minister. | I only raise it now because Iain Gray chose to major on this topic in questioning the first minister. |
| Mr Gray suggested it was a question of the minister's integrity. | Mr Gray suggested it was a question of the minister's integrity. |
| Read Brian Taylor's blog | Read Brian Taylor's blog |
| Mr MacLachlan had been identified as the author of a blog, called The Universality of Cheese, which had "a track record of smear and abuse against political opponents," said Mr Gray. | Mr MacLachlan had been identified as the author of a blog, called The Universality of Cheese, which had "a track record of smear and abuse against political opponents," said Mr Gray. |
| Following question time, Mr Russell again stated he had no prior knowledge of the blog, adding: "I stand absolutely by that statement and am entirely confident that I have acted properly throughout this matter in every way." | Following question time, Mr Russell again stated he had no prior knowledge of the blog, adding: "I stand absolutely by that statement and am entirely confident that I have acted properly throughout this matter in every way." |
| Mr Russell, who was serving as culture minister when the issue emerged, went on: "I have instructed solicitors to make it clear to my former employee that his allegations are totally false and that any repetition of them by him will result in legal action." | Mr Russell, who was serving as culture minister when the issue emerged, went on: "I have instructed solicitors to make it clear to my former employee that his allegations are totally false and that any repetition of them by him will result in legal action." |
| The minister added that, because the allegations related to his work as an MSP, he had referred the matter to Holyrood's standards commissioner. | The minister added that, because the allegations related to his work as an MSP, he had referred the matter to Holyrood's standards commissioner. |
| Mr MacLachlan wrote on his blog that he would be making a statement through his "legal representatives" in due course. | |
| During question time, Mr Gray said the education secretary needed to make a statement to parliament on whether he did know of the blog's existence. | During question time, Mr Gray said the education secretary needed to make a statement to parliament on whether he did know of the blog's existence. |
| "If Mr Russell didn't know about this black-ops blog, then there is no impediment to him coming to this chamber to set the record straight," said Mr Gray. | "If Mr Russell didn't know about this black-ops blog, then there is no impediment to him coming to this chamber to set the record straight," said Mr Gray. |
| First minister's questions: From Democracy Live | First minister's questions: From Democracy Live |
| The first minister said: "Mr Russell has already said repeatedly that he did not know of the blog and Iain Gray has absolutely no evidence to suggest that statement is inaccurate." | The first minister said: "Mr Russell has already said repeatedly that he did not know of the blog and Iain Gray has absolutely no evidence to suggest that statement is inaccurate." |
| Mr Salmond, who criticised Mr Gray for not choosing to raise issues such as the collapse of Scots airline Flyglobespan or the UN climate change talks, went on to say: "If we want to talk about conduct in politics then lets condemn attack blogs from whatever source." | Mr Salmond, who criticised Mr Gray for not choosing to raise issues such as the collapse of Scots airline Flyglobespan or the UN climate change talks, went on to say: "If we want to talk about conduct in politics then lets condemn attack blogs from whatever source." |
| And he raised the resignation of Damian McBride as a senior adviser to Gordon Brown after sending e-mails which discussed smearing senior Tories which found their way to a Westminster blogger. | And he raised the resignation of Damian McBride as a senior adviser to Gordon Brown after sending e-mails which discussed smearing senior Tories which found their way to a Westminster blogger. |
| Mr Gray, who said he had been the victim of internet slurs about his marriage: "I wish to see these anonymous blogs rooted out and got rid of." | Mr Gray, who said he had been the victim of internet slurs about his marriage: "I wish to see these anonymous blogs rooted out and got rid of." |