Thread by @lewis_goodall

Nicola Sturgeon is giving evidence and providing an opening statement

“As a result of a mistake which was made, a very serious mistake- two women were failed and taxpayers’ money lost. I deeply regret that.”

“Although I was not aware of the error at the time I want to take the opportunity to apologise to the women involved and to the Scottish public.

My actions deserve to be scrutinised...firstly on the 8th Jan 2019 I volunteered to Parliament my contact with Alex Salmond...”

“I stated as follows: on 2nd April 2018 he informed me about the complaints against him. I will explain why I stand by that statement. Second, I will set out why I did not immediately record the April meeting within the Scottish govt a decision rooted entirely with my desire...”

“To protect the confidentiality of the process. Thirdly I will outline why I believe it was right that I did not intervene in the investigation when I became aware of it even though AS asked me to do so. fourthly although the mistake made in the conduct of the investigation...”

“...ultimately meant the outcome of JR couldn’t be defended, I will demonstrate that the decisions taken at each stage of it were legally sound.”

“Alec has claimed to the committee that the meeting at my home on 2nd April took place with a shared understanding on behalf of all the participants in the discussion...this in fact represents a change in his position.”

Of the letter she read at the Salmond meeting outlining his alleged misconduct: “reading that letter is a moment of my life that I will never forget. Though he denied the allegations he gave me his account for one of the incidents which he said he had apologised for...”

“What he described constituted in my view, deeply inappropriate behaviour on his part.” NS says at the same time Salmond’s staff were outlining the same thing to her Chief of Staff: “again that would seem unnecessary if she and I had known everything in advance.”

This is crucial: “questions have been raised about a meeting three days earlier with Geoff Aberdein...I’ve not seen his account of that conversation however I obviously know the account mr Salmond has given of the meeting, though he also said on Friday that he hadn’t been...”

“...given a read out of it. Let me say upfront that I have no wish to question the sincerity of Geoff’s recollection. GA is someone I remain extremely fond of. But it is clear that my recollection is different and I did not and do not attach the same significance of that...”

“...discussion that he has. The purpose of that conversation seemed to be to meet with Alec as soon as possible...Geoff did indicate that an harassment issue had arisen but my recollection is that he did so in general terms. Since an approach from Sky News in November 17...”

“...I had harboured lingering suspicion that such issues in relation to AS might read their bead. So hearing of a potential issue would in itself not be a massive shock. What I recall most about the conversation was how worried GA seemed to be about AS welfare& state of mind...”

“He also told me AS might be considering resigning his party membership of the SNP. It was these factors that led me to agree to meet him. And it was these factors which led me to put the meeting in the personal and party space.”

This is all strikes me as being v deliberately worded.

“Not unreasonably people have asked me how I could have forgotten the meeting on 29th March and I wish my memory of it was more vivid. But as I have stated it was the detail of the complaints I was given on 2nd April...”

“...that I found significant and indeed shocking. That was the moment when any suspicions I had or awareness that there was a problem became actual and detailed knowledge. It’s also worth saying that if I had learned on 29/03 everything I learned on 02/04...”

“...my actions wouldn’t necessarily have been different. Given what I was told about the distress AS was in it was likely I would still have agreed to meet him, as his friend and his party leader...my decision not to record on 02/04 immediately...was because I did...”

“...not want to compromise the process underway.”

Sturgeon says that she didn’t reveal the meeting immediately because that it itself might have been more likely to constitute breaking the ministerial code, in that knowledge of her knowledge would influence the decision making..

That and the idea of whatever her knowing about the allegations “in general terms” means are going to come under very heavy scrutiny.

“I feel I must rebut the absurd suggestion that anyone acted with malice or as part of a plot against AS. That claim is not based in any fact. What happened is simple. A number of women made serious complaints about AS. The govt despite the mistake it undoubtedly made tried...”

“...to do the right thing. As First Minister I refused to follow the age old pattern of allowing a powerful man to use his status and connections to get what he wants.“

“AS said on Friday that these last two years have been a nightmare for him and I don’t doubt that. He remains someone I cared about for a long time. And maybe that’s why on Friday I found myself searching for any sign, any sign at all that he recognised how difficult this has...”

“...been for others too. First and foremost for women who accused him but also for those of us who have worked for him, a pained for him and considered him a friend and who now stand unfairly accused of plotting against him.”

“That he was acquitted by a jury of criminal conduct is beyond question. But I know just from what he told me that his behaviour was not always appropriate. And yet in 6 hours of testimony there was not a single word of regret, reflection or even simple acknowledgment of that.”

“Today though is about my actions. I have never claimed to be infallible. I have searched my soul many many times over. It may very well be I didn’t get everything right that’s for others to judge. But in one of the most invidious political and personal situations I’ve faced...”

“...I believe I acted properly and overall I made the best judgements I could. For anyone willing to listen with an open mind that’s what I’ll seek to demonstrate today.”

Nicola Sturgeon says she was unaware of any allegations with regards to Alex Salmond before 2017

Sturgeon asked why no-one has resigned over the "catastrophic" mishandling of the JR

FM responds that situation was terrible for everyone involved- "people got things wrong."

Sturgeon she has "profound concerns" about the effects of the confidence of women in coming forward.

She says her government has some responsibility with regards to this.

Sturgeon says she didn't read legal advice as saying that the govt would def lose the judicial review

Sturgeon says that "as a friend of Alex, as party leader"- was the basis on which she chose to meet him.

Repeats her claim that her decision not to notify about this meeting was about protecting "the integrity of the process"

Sturgeon repeats that her "memory isn't as vivid as I'd like" about the late March meeting with Geoff Aberdein. Says her "best recollection is that it was a meeting in general terms"- ie that it didn't explore the nature of the allegations.

FM says the March meeting wasn't "about the substance"

Says she probably forgot about that meeting because it wasn't the first time she'd heard about "general concerns"

Also says that the April meeting was so intense that it probably "obliterated from my mind" the March one

Murdo Fraser says he think it's incredible that the FM would not remember the 29th March meeting and the "story you're telling"

FM says "it's not a story"- that she understands the scepticism but that it was the best of her recollection.

FM: "Why would I have gone to such great lengths to conceal the 29th March...had the 29th March been something more than I am remembering it wouldn't have changed the course of things? Why would I go to such great lengths and jeopardy?"

Sturgeon: “I do not think it’s reasonable to ask me to apologise for the behaviour of Alex Salmond... the only person who should apologise for behaviour on his part, which he was asked to do on Friday and failed to do, is Alex Salmond.”

Baillie asks the FM whether she would make the decision about notification differently if it came up again

Sturgeon says that she wouldn't- she repeats that if she'd notified civil servants at that point it would have risked influencing the process