This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20129783
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Labour call on Scottish government to repay EU 'advice' costs | Labour call on Scottish government to repay EU 'advice' costs |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Scotland's first minister is facing demands to repay thousands of pounds of public money spent on a court battle to prevent legal advice being published. | |
| The issue centres on whether the Scottish government had or had not sought legal advice on the EU status of an independent Scotland. | The issue centres on whether the Scottish government had or had not sought legal advice on the EU status of an independent Scotland. |
| Labour will use their debating time at Holyrood to call for £12,000 to be given back to the public purse. | Labour will use their debating time at Holyrood to call for £12,000 to be given back to the public purse. |
| The SNP branded the call "hypocrisy" when compared with Labour's record. | The SNP branded the call "hypocrisy" when compared with Labour's record. |
| Scottish Labour business manager Paul Martin claims the row has been "an obscene waste" of public cash and said it should be paid back. | Scottish Labour business manager Paul Martin claims the row has been "an obscene waste" of public cash and said it should be paid back. |
| Both Mr Salmond and his deputy Nicola Sturgeon said they could not reveal whether the Scottish government held legal advice on an independent Scotland continuing to be a member of the EU because they would be in breach of the ministerial code. | Both Mr Salmond and his deputy Nicola Sturgeon said they could not reveal whether the Scottish government held legal advice on an independent Scotland continuing to be a member of the EU because they would be in breach of the ministerial code. |
| Code of conduct | Code of conduct |
| The matter went to the courts when Scotland's information commissioner Rosemary Agnew demanded the Scottish government either confirm or deny if legal advice existed, following a freedom of information (FOI) request. | The matter went to the courts when Scotland's information commissioner Rosemary Agnew demanded the Scottish government either confirm or deny if legal advice existed, following a freedom of information (FOI) request. |
| But last week a row broke out between the SNP government and opposition parties when Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that, with the referendum deal signed between Holyrood and Westminster, the SNP had now commissioned legal advice on EU membership for the first time. | But last week a row broke out between the SNP government and opposition parties when Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that, with the referendum deal signed between Holyrood and Westminster, the SNP had now commissioned legal advice on EU membership for the first time. |
| Ms Sturgeon also announced the Scottish government was abandoning the legal action it had taken against the information commissioner. | Ms Sturgeon also announced the Scottish government was abandoning the legal action it had taken against the information commissioner. |
| On the same day Labour claimed Mr Salmond was a "bare faced liar", saying he told the BBC in March that he did have legal advice. | On the same day Labour claimed Mr Salmond was a "bare faced liar", saying he told the BBC in March that he did have legal advice. |
| The first minister insisted he never said that he had legal advice and the transcript of the interview proves this. | The first minister insisted he never said that he had legal advice and the transcript of the interview proves this. |
| The SNP have long argued the court case was about defending the code of conduct for ministers which prevents disclosure of legal advice, including whether that advice even exists. | The SNP have long argued the court case was about defending the code of conduct for ministers which prevents disclosure of legal advice, including whether that advice even exists. |
| European 'farce' | European 'farce' |
| Speaking ahead of the debate on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Martin said he did not understand why taxpayers' money had been spent defending legal advice that did not exist. | Speaking ahead of the debate on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Martin said he did not understand why taxpayers' money had been spent defending legal advice that did not exist. |
| He said: "This was an obscene waste of money which only heightens the farce that the SNP has created over Scotland's future in the EU. | He said: "This was an obscene waste of money which only heightens the farce that the SNP has created over Scotland's future in the EU. |
| "If this had really been a point of principle as Alex Salmond claimed, then they would have continued with the case. The reality is this was a delaying tactic as they tried to hide their dishonesty." | "If this had really been a point of principle as Alex Salmond claimed, then they would have continued with the case. The reality is this was a delaying tactic as they tried to hide their dishonesty." |
| Mr Martin added: "We believe that Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon should pay this money back as a gesture of goodwill to the Scottish people they have deceived at our expense." | Mr Martin added: "We believe that Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon should pay this money back as a gesture of goodwill to the Scottish people they have deceived at our expense." |
| Responding on behalf of the SNP, Kenneth Gibson, convener of the finance committee, said Labour should look to their own record in government and the money they spent defending the ministerial code of conduct. | Responding on behalf of the SNP, Kenneth Gibson, convener of the finance committee, said Labour should look to their own record in government and the money they spent defending the ministerial code of conduct. |
| He said: "Just when you think that the Labour Party in Scotland has reached rock bottom, they sink yet even further into hypocrisy. | He said: "Just when you think that the Labour Party in Scotland has reached rock bottom, they sink yet even further into hypocrisy. |
| "Where the Labour-led Scottish Executive took five FOI-related cases to court in two years, this administration has taken just two cases in five years." | "Where the Labour-led Scottish Executive took five FOI-related cases to court in two years, this administration has taken just two cases in five years." |
| And he attacked Labour for being a party "not to be trusted" with public cash. | And he attacked Labour for being a party "not to be trusted" with public cash. |
| Mr Gibson added: "Labour are also at one with the Tories in wanting to waste up to £100bn of taxpayers' money on a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons to be dumped in Scotland." | Mr Gibson added: "Labour are also at one with the Tories in wanting to waste up to £100bn of taxpayers' money on a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons to be dumped in Scotland." |