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Salmond backs fraud plea minister Salmond backs fraud plea minister
(30 minutes later)
Alex Salmond has said he backed his deputy first minister "110%" after she wrote a letter in support of a man who could be jailed for benefit fraud. Alex Salmond has backed his deputy first minister "110%" after she wrote a letter in support of a man who could be jailed for benefit fraud.
Nicola Sturgeon is facing calls to resign after she said she was "duty-bound" to make representations on behalf of 60-year-old Abdul Rauf. Nicola Sturgeon she said she was "duty-bound" to make representations on behalf of 60-year-old Abdul Rauf, a constituent in her Glasgow Govan seat.
He defrauded more than £80,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions.He defrauded more than £80,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Mr Salmond described Ms Sturgeon, the MSP for Govan, as a "fantastic" deputy who had acted "entirely appropriately". Mr Salmond's defence came after opposition parties raised concern over the issue during question time.
Speaking during first minister's questions, Mr Salmond said: "I think she is a fantastic deputy first minister of Scotland and she has my 110% support." Rauf had admitted failing to declare a £200,000 property in Edinburgh on an income support application and subsequently received £650 a month in rent while claiming benefits between 2001 and 2006, Glasgow Sheriff Court heard.
He said: "Every MSP should have a duty of care to their constituents and if you can help you should try to help. That is what a real constituency MSP like Nicola Sturgeon serves her constituents for." At the same time he was living in a £400,000 house in Glasgow's Maxwell Park area.
Brian TaylorPolitical editor Did she have a "duty", as she says, to act as she did?Brian TaylorPolitical editor Did she have a "duty", as she says, to act as she did?
It might be argued that she had a duty to respond to an approach from a constituent or one lodged on his behalf.It might be argued that she had a duty to respond to an approach from a constituent or one lodged on his behalf.
It might be argued further that she did not have to write to the court.It might be argued further that she did not have to write to the court.
These matters are a question of judgement.These matters are a question of judgement.
Read Brian Taylor's blogRead Brian Taylor's blog
Mr Salmond cited examples of other court cases where politicians, including Gordon Brown, had written references on behalf of constituents. In her letter to the court, Ms Sturgeon, who became aware of the case in July 2008, asked the court not to jail Rauf, pointing out he had health problems and a family with children under the age of 10.
However, Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said Ms Sturgeon had shown a lack of judgement, asking: "What crime do you have to commit in order not to receive a character reference from the first minister or his deputy?" Her letter also stated Rauf had repaid £27,000 of the money owed and was planning to sell one of his properties to repay the rest.
But Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray told the chamber Ms Sturgeon had shown a lack of judgement, asking: "What crime do you have to commit in order not to receive a character reference from the first minister or his deputy?"
He added: "Let us be clear, no member of this parliament is bound to vouch for the character of just anyone. The MSPs' code said members should consider issues on their merits, taking account of the views of others."He added: "Let us be clear, no member of this parliament is bound to vouch for the character of just anyone. The MSPs' code said members should consider issues on their merits, taking account of the views of others."
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how Rauf admitted failing to declare a £200,000 property in Edinburgh on his application for income support. He subsequently received £650 a month in rent while he claimed benefits between 2001 and 2006. Conservative leader Annabel Goldie stopped short of calling for the resignation of Ms Sturgeon, also Scotland's health secretary, but added: "Many questions need to be answered and must be answered if Ms Sturgeon is to retain the confidence of the parliament.
At the same time he was living in a £400,000 house in Glasgow's Maxwell Park area. "I believe, if necessary, she should come before this parliament and make a statement."
In her letter to the court, Ms Sturgeon said Rauf had already repaid £27,000 of the money owed and had said he was going to sell one of his properties to repay the rest of the cash. And Tavish Scott, the Liberal Democrat leader, demanded to know where the line on helping constituents was drawn.
Mr Rauf was released on bail pending sentence in three months timeMr Rauf was released on bail pending sentence in three months time
Ms Sturgeon, who said she became aware of the case in July 2008, also pointed out in the letter that Rauf had suffered from poor health for a number of years and had a family with children under the age of 10. He told MSPs: "The justice secretary has called for new laws to confiscate the assets of criminals. He says they are parasites who live off the back of law-abiding folk.
She asked the court not to jail him because of the impact that might have on his health and family life. "Why didn't any of that occur to the deputy first minister when she was presumably sitting opposite one of them."
Sheriff Alan MacKenzie told Rauf that a jail term was "at the forefront" of his mind but said he would defer sentence for three months and released him on bail. Hitting back, Mr Salmond said: "I think she is a fantastic deputy first minister of Scotland and she has my 110% support."
The conviction is Rauf's second for fraud - in 1996 he was given a four-year sentence for stealing nearly £60,000 in pension and benefit payments when he was a sub-post master at Tollcross in Edinburgh. The first minister went on: "Every MSP should have a duty of care to their constituents and if you can help you should try to help. That is what a real constituency MSP like Nicola Sturgeon serves her constituents for."
Ms Sturgeon told the BBC: "This constituent accepted his wrongdoing, he has made attempts to pay back some of the money, but those are matters for the court to take into account. Mr Salmond cited examples of other court cases where politicians, including Gordon Brown, had written references on behalf of constituents.
"I'm duty-bound to make reasonable representations, that's what I did as a constituency MSP, and ultimately it is for the court to make a decision about the disposal of the case." When the case called at court on Wednesday, Sheriff Alan MacKenzie told Rauf a jail term was "at the forefront" of his mind, but deferred sentence for three months and released him on bail.
The Conservatives described Ms Sturgeon's intervention as "ill considered" for someone in her position, while the Liberal Democrats said it "beggars belief". The conviction was Rauf's second for fraud - in 1996 he was given a four-year sentence for stealing nearly £60,000 in pension and benefit payments when he was a sub-post master at Tollcross in Edinburgh.