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Sturgeon calls for inquiry into memo alleging she wants Tory election victory Sturgeon calls for inquiry into memo alleging she wants Tory election victory
(35 minutes later)
The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has called for an urgent investigation over a leaked government memo that alleges she would like to see the Conservatives win the general election.The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has called for an urgent investigation over a leaked government memo that alleges she would like to see the Conservatives win the general election.
The SNP leader called on the cabinet secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, to find out how the Daily Telegraph obtained the Foreign Office memo in which, the paper claims, Sturgeon told the French ambassador in February that she hoped for a Tory win.The SNP leader called on the cabinet secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, to find out how the Daily Telegraph obtained the Foreign Office memo in which, the paper claims, Sturgeon told the French ambassador in February that she hoped for a Tory win.
Related: Election Live blog - readers' edition: Saturday 4 AprilRelated: Election Live blog - readers' edition: Saturday 4 April
A Foreign Office spokesman cast further doubt on the memo’s alleged contents, stating on Saturday that they were “not aware of any such document”.A Foreign Office spokesman cast further doubt on the memo’s alleged contents, stating on Saturday that they were “not aware of any such document”.
Speaking at an anti-Trident demonstration in Glasgow, Sturgeon said: “The bigger question, and one I am raising today with the head of the civil service, Sir Jeremy Heywood, is who wrote this memo, as the Foreign Office are now appearing to deny all knowledge of it.Speaking at an anti-Trident demonstration in Glasgow, Sturgeon said: “The bigger question, and one I am raising today with the head of the civil service, Sir Jeremy Heywood, is who wrote this memo, as the Foreign Office are now appearing to deny all knowledge of it.
“How did it come to contain such an inaccuracy and how did it get into the hands of the Tory-supporting Daily Telegraph?“How did it come to contain such an inaccuracy and how did it get into the hands of the Tory-supporting Daily Telegraph?
“This story is 100% not true. The French ambassador, the other person in the conversation, has said that too and this really should be the end of the matter.”“This story is 100% not true. The French ambassador, the other person in the conversation, has said that too and this really should be the end of the matter.”
Her comments came after Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, described Sturgeon’s alleged backing of David Cameron as “damning revelations”.Her comments came after Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, described Sturgeon’s alleged backing of David Cameron as “damning revelations”.
The first minister’s version of events has been backed up by the French consul-general in Edinburgh, Pierre-Alain Coffinier, who said on Saturday that he had no idea where the newspaper’s claim had come from.
.@simon_telegraph your story is categorically, 100%, untrue...which I'd have told you if you'd asked me at any point today.@simon_telegraph your story is categorically, 100%, untrue...which I'd have told you if you'd asked me at any point today
Miliband told Sky News on Saturday: “I think these are damning revelations. What it shows is that while in public the SNP are saying they don’t want to see a Conservative government, in private they are actually saying they do want a Conservative government. It shows that the answer at this general election is if you want the Conservatives out, the only answer is to vote Labour for a Labour government.”Miliband told Sky News on Saturday: “I think these are damning revelations. What it shows is that while in public the SNP are saying they don’t want to see a Conservative government, in private they are actually saying they do want a Conservative government. It shows that the answer at this general election is if you want the Conservatives out, the only answer is to vote Labour for a Labour government.”
The Telegraph claimed Sturgeon’s comments were contained in a leaked UK government memorandum, thought to come from the Foreign Office, which sets out an official account of the meeting from Coffinier. The Telegraph claimed that the allegation was contained in a leaked UK government memorandum, thought to come from the Foreign Office, which sets out an official account of the meeting from France’s experienced consul general in Edinburgh, Pierre-Alain Coffinier.
But Coffinier told the Guardian that this was untrue. He said he had checked his notes of that meeting, which took place at Holyrood after first minister’s questions on 26 February. “I have looked at my notes and absolutely no preference has been expressed by anyone regarding the outcome of the election,” he said. “Which suggests neither Nicola nor my ambassador said anything.”
The allegation comes as polls suggest that the SNP is on track to take up to 50 seats from Labour in Scotland, and Sturgeon’s personal popularity is soaring in the wake of a well-received performance in this week’s televised leaders’ debate.The allegation comes as polls suggest that the SNP is on track to take up to 50 seats from Labour in Scotland, and Sturgeon’s personal popularity is soaring in the wake of a well-received performance in this week’s televised leaders’ debate.
Jim Murphy, leader of Scottish Labour, has also said the memo shows the SNP believes a Conservative victory could, in the long term, strengthen their hand in cementing opposition in Scotland to Whitehall rule.Jim Murphy, leader of Scottish Labour, has also said the memo shows the SNP believes a Conservative victory could, in the long term, strengthen their hand in cementing opposition in Scotland to Whitehall rule.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the memo said: “Discussion appears to have focused mainly on the political situation, with the FM stating that she wouldn’t want a formal coalition with Labour; that the SNP would almost certainly have a large number of seats ... that she’d rather see David Cameron remain as PM.” The note went on to say that Sturgeon had said she did not think the Labour leader was “prime minister material”.According to the Daily Telegraph, the memo said: “Discussion appears to have focused mainly on the political situation, with the FM stating that she wouldn’t want a formal coalition with Labour; that the SNP would almost certainly have a large number of seats ... that she’d rather see David Cameron remain as PM.” The note went on to say that Sturgeon had said she did not think the Labour leader was “prime minister material”.
However, the civil servant appeared to doubt whether the report accurately conveyed Sturgeon’s comments, adding: “I have to admit that I’m not sure that the FM’s tongue would be quite so loose on that kind of thing in a meeting like that, so it might well be a case of something being lost in translation.”However, the civil servant appeared to doubt whether the report accurately conveyed Sturgeon’s comments, adding: “I have to admit that I’m not sure that the FM’s tongue would be quite so loose on that kind of thing in a meeting like that, so it might well be a case of something being lost in translation.”
The leaked document was drafted by a Whitehall official after Coffinier called the FCO, as protocol requires, to pass on a confidential account of several of the ambassador’s meetings in Edinburgh, which included a meeting with Alistair Carmichael, the Scottish secretary.The leaked document was drafted by a Whitehall official after Coffinier called the FCO, as protocol requires, to pass on a confidential account of several of the ambassador’s meetings in Edinburgh, which included a meeting with Alistair Carmichael, the Scottish secretary.
Coffinier, who was present at the meeting, confirmed that he had talked “in broad terms” to the UK government’s Scotland Office about the ambassador’s visit, but denied saying that Sturgeon had expressed a preference about the election outcome and said he could not recall any casual comment which could have been interpreted in this way.
“I didn’t say that,” the consul-general told Sky News. “I do not know where this comes from, because it is certainly not in my report that anyone gave any preference.”
Sturgeon added that she would welcome the publication of any minutes from her meeting with the ambassador.Sturgeon added that she would welcome the publication of any minutes from her meeting with the ambassador.
Miliband also told Sky News that there would not be a formal coalition between Labour and the SNP.Miliband also told Sky News that there would not be a formal coalition between Labour and the SNP.
But he did not rule out an informal post-election deal, short of a coalition, under which the SNP might prop up a minority government in a hung parliament.But he did not rule out an informal post-election deal, short of a coalition, under which the SNP might prop up a minority government in a hung parliament.
Sturgeon repeated on Saturday that the SNP did not “want a Conservative government” and called on Miliband to publicly state they could work together on an ad hoc basis to block a minority Tory government.Sturgeon repeated on Saturday that the SNP did not “want a Conservative government” and called on Miliband to publicly state they could work together on an ad hoc basis to block a minority Tory government.