Asked about accusations of political influence on the Scottish Crown Office over the Salmond inquiry, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky "no government, no matter however strong they might think they are, should think they have a right to trample over that independence".
Asked about Ruth Davidson's comments that there are serious question over the independence of institutions in Scotland, Robert Buckland said the Scottish Tory leader always makes "powerful and important points... she asks some real questions".
Justice Sec Robert Buckland said there is an advantage to the Lord Advocate sitting inside the Scottish govt but said it would be "a cause for concern" if politicians "fail to understand" that law officers need to maintain operational independence.
Robert Buckland said that if politicians do not understand the need for the Lord Advocate and other such roles to be independent that would "undermine the role of the law officers" and it would need to be "addressed in the most serious way".
Former SNP Justice Sec Kenny MacAskill says the "line between the two distinct roles" of the Lord Advocate as head of the Crown Office & govt legal adviser "has been crossed". He adds individuals have acted wrongly & will be held to account, but the institutions will remain.
However MacAskill says that Westminster Justice Sec Robert Buckland should be more concerned with the "unedifying behaviour" of Priti Patel and Matt Hancock in his own cabinet & urges there to be "action" on that.
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