The Scottish Government paid thousands of pounds to a team of top lawyers to try to block MSPs probing Alex Salmond’s botched sexual harassment case from hearing key evidence.
The Sunday Mail has obtained documents showing a firm – hired using public cash – demanded
The Sunday Mail has obtained documents showing a firm – hired using public cash – demanded
investigating committee members give written guarantees they wouldn’t ask a senior official crucial questions.
No-go areas related to meetings held between the First Minister and Salmond at her home in 2018.
Detail of the appointments form the basis of allegations Sturgeon
No-go areas related to meetings held between the First Minister and Salmond at her home in 2018.
Detail of the appointments form the basis of allegations Sturgeon
broke the Ministerial Code of Conduct.
When MSPs refused to sign up to RGM Solicitors’ demands, the witness – a senior official – failed to give evidence at all.
The leaked email demanded: “Members need to email me to confirm they are content to abide by the written
When MSPs refused to sign up to RGM Solicitors’ demands, the witness – a senior official – failed to give evidence at all.
The leaked email demanded: “Members need to email me to confirm they are content to abide by the written
agreement below before the evidence session can proceed. I would be grateful if members
could respond confirming that they agree to these terms as soon as they can.”
The senior official is being represented by Glasgow-based RGM’s managing partner Nicola Irvine.
The
could respond confirming that they agree to these terms as soon as they can.”
The senior official is being represented by Glasgow-based RGM’s managing partner Nicola Irvine.
The
email provided a list of statements that MSPs were required to give written consent to abide by.
A source said: “By signing up it was felt key information would also have to be omitted from their final report.”
Salmond was due to give explosive evidence to the Committee on
A source said: “By signing up it was felt key information would also have to be omitted from their final report.”
Salmond was due to give explosive evidence to the Committee on
the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints on Tuesday.
But that session will now almost certainly not take place after the committee said it would not publish evidence from him that Sturgeon misled Parliament.
But that session will now almost certainly not take place after the committee said it would not publish evidence from him that Sturgeon misled Parliament.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, a member of the inquiry team, said: “The work of the inquiry is being hamstrung by the collective amnesia of key figures or, in some cases, a failure to appear at all.
“The SNP and Scottish Government will never be able to shake the stench that they have
“The SNP and Scottish Government will never be able to shake the stench that they have
something to hide, unless they are willing to be open and transparent with the inquiry.” The inquiry is examining the Scottish Government’s unlawful probe into sexual misconduct complaints against Salmond.
It has emerged ministers spent more than £50,000 to prepare civil
It has emerged ministers spent more than £50,000 to prepare civil
servants to give evidence. While it is not known how much public money has been spent on RGM, the bill is likely to be four figures.
Sturgeon has been accused of breaking the Ministerial Code by misleading Holyrood over what she knew and when.
She is facing further
Sturgeon has been accused of breaking the Ministerial Code by misleading Holyrood over what she knew and when.
She is facing further
allegations over meeting Salmond at her home. It should have been recorded if they were to discuss Government business rather than party affairs.
Sturgeon initially told Holyrood she first heard of the sexual misconduct complaints against him when they met at her home on
Sturgeon initially told Holyrood she first heard of the sexual misconduct complaints against him when they met at her home on
April 2, 2018. After it emerged she discussed the allegations in her Holyrood office four days earlier, she has said that she “forgot”.
-end - This is for the folks who won't click a link :)
-end - This is for the folks who won't click a link :)
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