Nicola Sturgeon blasted on Newsnight by Scottish Tory leader after ‘lying’ over Salmond

Nicola Sturgeon has ‘lied’ to Scottish people says Douglas Ross

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Douglas Ross appeared on the Emily Maitlis-hosted show to discuss the Scottish First Minister’s alleged breach of ministerial code. The Scottish Government published emails yesterday showing advice it had received warning that it was likely to lose a judicial review of its handling of sexual harassment complaints against Mr Salmond in 2018.

Speaking to Ms Maitlis, the Scottish Tory leader attacked Ms Sturgeon over the released emails.

He said: “What’s very clear from the evidence that has been released today is that Nicola Sturgeon has misled parliament.

“She has lied to the people of Scotland, because we have credible witnesses confirming that she was aware of the allegations against Alex Salmond prior to when she previously said she was, and crucially, the complainants’ details were released to Mr Salmond’s team.

“I mean that is just awful that the women at the heart of this, they have been so badly let down, and that’s before we even look at the absolute waste of taxpayers money given that the Scottish Government knew months before they finally gave up on their case that was doomed to failure.”

© PA – TWITTER / @BBCNewsnight First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, during a Covid briefing at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh. Picture date: Tuesday March 2, © TWITTER / @BBCNewsnight Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative leader, on BBC Newsnight with host Emily Maitlis and SNP Justice Minister Humza Yousaf March 2 2021

Ms Maitlis then questioned whether Mr Ross does not “want to hear her evidence” when the First Minister speaks to the inquiry today.

The Tory leader said in response: “What I am saying is that there is clear corroboration that Nicola Sturgeon has lied to Parliament, and we have lost First Ministers in Scotland for far less.

“She is accused, and there is a huge amount of evidence now, that she has misled parliament and misled the people of Scotland.”

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© PA File photo dated 20/10/11 of the then SNP Leader Alex Salmond and Deputy Leader Nicola Sturgeon on their way to the 77th Scottish National Party in In © PA First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, during a Covid briefing at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh. Picture date: Tuesday March 2,

Also appearing on Newsnight, Humza Yousaf, SNP Scottish Justice Minister, insisted “people will make up their own minds” on the scandal after Ms Sturgeon gives her evidence.

He said: “There is an election in two and a half odd months, people will make up their own minds as to whether or not Nicola Sturgeon has their trust.

“They will make a decision based on how she has responded to the biggest challenge we’ve ever faced frankly in our lifetime, let alone our government in response to the pandemic. (…)

“I’m very very confident to say, regardless of what comes out of this parliamentary inquiry, that Nicola will be returned not only as First Minister, but will lead us to an independence referendum and ultimately to independence.”

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It comes after new documents published by the Scottish Government on Tuesday evening included email advice from a senior lawyer who was “very concerned indeed” about the sexual harassment case in October 2018, with the Government’s counsel urging it to admit defeat by December 6.

They admitted defeat in January 2019, paying Mr Salmond more than £500,000 in legal fees after admitting its investigation into the allegations had been unlawful as the civil servant tasked with investigating the complaints had already been in contact with the complainants.

Senior lawyer Roddy Dunlop QC said on October 31 this “presents a very real problem indeed”, as it could appear that the investigating officer was “not eligible”.

Lawyers representing Ms Sturgeon complained on December 19 of “extreme professional embarrassment” and threatened to resign from the case on December 28.

© EXPRESS EXPRESS.CO.UK graphic showing Scottish independence poll results from Ipsos Mori from October 2 to October 9 © PA Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross in the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh. August 18 2020

Mr Salmond was cleared of 13 charges of sexual assault against nine women in a separate criminal trial in March last year.

Last Friday, he claimed to Parliament when giving evidence for the inquiry “Scotland’s leadership has failed”.

Mr Salmond alleged there had been a “deliberate suppression of information inconvenient to the government” and claimed he had been given a memory stick in the build up to his criminal trial that contained messages which involved “pressuring police”, “collusion of witnesses” and “construction of evidence because police were felt to be inadequate in finding it themselves”.

A spokesperson for the First Minister said: “The First Minister will address all of the issues raised – and much more besides – at the committee tomorrow, while the independent adviser on the ministerial code will report in due course.”