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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Salmond backs fraud plea minister | Salmond backs fraud plea minister |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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. | 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 she said she was "duty-bound" to make representations on behalf of 60-year-old Abdul Rauf, a constituent in her Glasgow Govan seat. | 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's defence came after opposition parties raised concern over the issue during question time. | Mr Salmond's defence came after opposition parties raised concern over the issue during question time. |
| Ms Sturgeon will explain her decision to MSPs when she makes a statement to parliament on 24 February, after the Holyrood recess. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| At the same time he was living in a £400,000 house in Glasgow's Maxwell Park area. | 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 blog | Read Brian Taylor's blog |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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?" | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| "I believe, if necessary, she should come before this parliament and make a statement." | "I believe, if necessary, she should come before this parliament and make a statement." |
| And Tavish Scott, the Liberal Democrat leader, demanded to know where the line on helping constituents was drawn. | 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 time | Mr Rauf was released on bail pending sentence in three months time |
| 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. | 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. |
| "Why didn't any of that occur to the deputy first minister when she was presumably sitting opposite one of them." | "Why didn't any of that occur to the deputy first minister when she was presumably sitting opposite one of them." |
| Hitting back, Mr Salmond said: "I think she is a fantastic deputy first minister of Scotland and she has my 110% support." | Hitting back, Mr Salmond said: "I think she is a fantastic deputy first minister of Scotland and she has my 110% support." |
| 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." | 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." |
| Mr Salmond cited examples of other court cases where politicians, including Gordon Brown, had written references on behalf of constituents. | Mr Salmond cited examples of other court cases where politicians, including Gordon Brown, had written references on behalf of constituents. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |