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Alistair Carmichael admits Nicola Sturgeon memo leak Alistair Carmichael admits Nicola Sturgeon memo leak
(35 minutes later)
The former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has been forced to admit that he was behind a leak to the media of a controversial memo during the general election campaign.The former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has been forced to admit that he was behind a leak to the media of a controversial memo during the general election campaign.
The leak suggested Nicola Sturgeon told the French Ambassador she wanted David Cameron to remain as prime minister.The leak suggested Nicola Sturgeon told the French Ambassador she wanted David Cameron to remain as prime minister.
Mr Carmichael said it was an error of judgement and he accepted "the details of the account are not correct".Mr Carmichael said it was an error of judgement and he accepted "the details of the account are not correct".
At the time, Scotland's first minister said she rejected the claim "100%".At the time, Scotland's first minister said she rejected the claim "100%".
The SNP had accused Whitehall of dirty tricks, and the French consul-general in Edinburgh, Pierre-Alain Coffinier, also said the memo was not accurate and that Ms Sturgeon had not expressed any preference for a prime minister.The SNP had accused Whitehall of dirty tricks, and the French consul-general in Edinburgh, Pierre-Alain Coffinier, also said the memo was not accurate and that Ms Sturgeon had not expressed any preference for a prime minister.
'Full responsibility''Full responsibility'
The official cabinet office inquiry into the leak has now released its report. The official cabinet office inquiry into the leak has now completed its report.
It said Mr Carmichael's former special adviser Euan Roddin leaked the confidential memo to the Daily Telegraph - but he had Mr Carmichael's permission to do so.It said Mr Carmichael's former special adviser Euan Roddin leaked the confidential memo to the Daily Telegraph - but he had Mr Carmichael's permission to do so.
Mr Carmichael said, while he had not seen the document before it was published by the newspaper, he was "aware of its content and agreed that my special adviser should make it public".
The leak inquiry, which was ordered by the Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, concluded that Mr Roddin's official mobile phone was used to call the Telegraph journalist and that Mr Carmichael "could and should have stopped the sharing of the memo".The leak inquiry, which was ordered by the Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, concluded that Mr Roddin's official mobile phone was used to call the Telegraph journalist and that Mr Carmichael "could and should have stopped the sharing of the memo".
The memo claimed that Ms Sturgeon told the French Ambassador that she would prefer David Cameron to remain as prime minister and that then Labour leader Ed Miliband was not prime minister material. The memo, which was written by a civil servant in the Scotland Office, claimed that Ms Sturgeon told the French Ambassador to the UK, Sylvie Bermann, that she would prefer David Cameron to remain as prime minister and that then Labour leader Ed Miliband was not prime minister material.
Mr Carmichael has admitted that he should not have let Mr Roddin leak the memo and accepts "full responsibility for the publication." It was written following a discussion between the civil servant, who has not been named, and the French Consul-General about a meeting Ms Sturgeon had with Ms Bermann.
Mr Carmichael, who is now the only Liberal Democrat MP in Scotland, has written to Ms Sturgeon and the French Ambassador to apologise - describing it as a "breach of protocol." The memo stated that part of the conversation between the ambassador and the first minister might well have been "lost in translation".
Mr Carmichael has admitted that he should not have let Mr Roddin leak the memo. He has also accepted "full responsibility for the publication."
Mr Carmichael, who is now the only Liberal Democrat MP in Scotland, has written to Ms Sturgeon and Ms Bermann to apologise - describing the leak as a "breach of protocol."
He said that, had he still been a government minister, he would have "considered this to be a matter that required my resignation".He said that, had he still been a government minister, he would have "considered this to be a matter that required my resignation".
'Lost in translation'
Neither Mr Carmichael nor Mr Roddin will take their severance payments as cabinet minister and special adviser. Generally, a lump sum, equivalent to three months of annual ministerial salary, is payable when a minister ceases to hold office.Neither Mr Carmichael nor Mr Roddin will take their severance payments as cabinet minister and special adviser. Generally, a lump sum, equivalent to three months of annual ministerial salary, is payable when a minister ceases to hold office.
The memo followed a discussion between a civil servant, who has not been named, and the French Consul-General about a meeting Ms Sturgeon had with Sylvie Bermann, the French Ambassador to the UK. The Cabinet Office report said the civil servant who wrote the memo believed it to have been an accurate record of the conversation that took place between him and the French Consul General, but pointed out that he had already highlighted that it could have been "lost in translation".
The Cabinet Office report said the civil servant "believed that the memo was an accurate record of the conversation that took place between him and the French Consul General" but pointed out that he had already highlighted that it could have been "lost in translation".
The Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Haywood concluded that there was no reason to doubt that the civil servant recorded accurately what he thought he had heard.The Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Haywood concluded that there was no reason to doubt that the civil servant recorded accurately what he thought he had heard.
He also said there was no evidence of any political motivation or "dirty tricks." The report said: "Senior officials who have worked with him say that he is reliable and has no history of inaccurate reporting, impropriety or security lapses.
"The Cabinet Secretary has concluded that there is no reason to doubt that he recorded accurately what he thought he had heard. There is no evidence of any political motivation or 'dirty tricks'."