Salmond inquiry news – live: Former leader accuses Scottish government of ‘deliberately suppressing evidence’

Alex Salmond has claimed that a leak to the Daily Record about complaints against him was “politically inspired” as he called for further police investigation into the matter.

“If they [civil servants] do leak, they don’t leak to the political editor of the Daily Record. Therefore I think the leak was politically inspired,” Mr Salmond said.

“I think the matter shouldn’t be at an end, I think it’s a hugely serious matter.”

He added: “Where has been the police investigation ordered by the Crown Office into what has been for many people concerned, not least the complainers, a hugely distressing leak to the Daily Record in August 2018?

“As far as I know there has been nothing said or done by the Crown Office in terms of trying to determine where that leak came from.

“I think it does require further police investigation – I do believe I know the identity but I’m not here to speculate on individuals that I cannot substantiate.”

From my colleague Adam Forrest:

Acting Scottish Labour leader Jackie Baillie has asked Alex Salmond about his claim that the identity of one of the complainers against Mr Salmond was revealed to Geoff Aberdein – his former chief of staff – by one of Nicola Sturgeon’s aides at a meeting in March 2018.

Ms Baillie asked: “Do you know if the name of one of those complainants was shared at one of those meetings?”

Mr Salmond said: “Yes.” Ms Baillie then asked: “Can I ask you how you know that?”

He replied “Because my former chief of staff told me that” – before adding that he believes there would be three other people “who know that to be true”.

Yesterday, Ms Sturgeon denied the identity of one of the complainers had been revealed. She replied: “To the very best of my knowledge, I do not think that happened.”

The BBC’s Nick Eardley has reported that sources in Holyrood have accused SNP members of attempting to “talk out” the committee to prevent discussion on the ministerial code and accusations made by Alex Salmond against Nicola Sturgeon.

Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond has said that he does not believe Nicola Sturgeon was “covering up something” in relation to when she asked about harassment allegations against him.

Mr Salmond was asked if, prior to November 2017, Ms Sturgeon had raised questions or concerns with him about what she would describe as sexually inappropriate behaviour.

“I have got points to make about what I believe the current first minister has done or not done, and they will be made in response to relevant questions, relevant to the committee,” he told the inquiry.

“But I’ve seen it pursued on the committee that somehow Nicola Sturgeon was covering up something, that is not the case.”

Downing Street has come to the defence of the civil service, rejecting comments by a key aide who branded Whitehall mandarins “aloof, arrogant and remote”.

The comments by newly-appointed No 10 deputy chief of staff Simone Finn prompted an angry backlash from public service unions, who said civil servants had been “working their socks off” during the coronavirus pandemic.

Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has the full story below:

From my colleague Adam Forrest:

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton has asked Alex Salmond: “Of the behaviours that you have admitted to, some of which are appalling, are you sorry?”

Mr Salmond replied: “I pointed out the Scottish government’s illegality has had huge consequences for a number of people, and specifically mentioned the complainants in my opening statement … over the last three years there have been two court cases, two judges and a jury and I’m resting on the proceedings of these cases.”

The Lib Dem MSP said “the nation would like to hear” if Mr Salmond was sorry for any of his behaviour.

Alex Cole-Hamilton is then chided by committee convenor Linda Fabiani and is reminded: “Mr Salmond is not here on trial”.

Former first minister Alex Salmond has told a Scottish parliament committee that “some consequences” should follow on from “unlawful conduct” by the Scottish government.

“I think the leadership of these institutions have serious questions to answer,” Mr Salmond told the inquiry.

“When you get to the stage that a government behaves unlawfully – I mean, this is not something that happens very often.

“I’m on the record politically, when governments have behaved unlawfully, of regarding matters a huge and heinous thing to have happened. It’s not a slight matter.

“Some consequences should follow from unlawful conduct.”

Scottish Tory Party leader Douglas Ross has said Alex Salmond is “right” to say that “truth and honesty in government matters” in relation to today’s inquiry hearing.

“I am no fan of Alex Salmond. He is not a man I respect,” Mr Ross said.

“But he is right about at least one thing – truth and honesty in government matters.

“And we’re not getting it from Nicola Sturgeon.”

Alex Salmond has said that the Scottish government’s “failures of leadership are many and obvious” but no-one has “taken responsibility” for the botched handling of harassment allegations.

“The government acted illegally but somehow nobody is to blame,” Mr Salmond said.

He claimed that the Committee had been asked to do its job “with both hands tied behind its back and a blindfold on”.

“Scotland hasn’t failed, its leadership has failed,” he added.

“The importance of this inquiry is for each and everyone of us to help put this right.”

Alex Salmond has suggested that the Scottish government’s handling of harassment allegations has been a “nightmare” for him.

The former first minister told the inquiry: “I have no incentive or advantage in revisiting the hurt and shock of the last three years from a personal perspective.

“Or, indeed, from the perspective of two complainants, failed by the government.”

He added: “For two years and six months, this has been a nightmare.

“I have every desire to move on, to turn the page, to resist talking yet again about a series of events which have been amongst the most wounding that any person can face.

“But the reason I am here today is because we can’t turn that page, nor move on, until the decision-making which is undermining the system of government in Scotland is addressed.”