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Scotland’s leadership has failed, Alex Salmond has claimed, as he told MSPs there had been a “calculated and deliberate suppression of key evidence” to a Holyrood committee.Mr Salmond used his opening remarks at a highly-anticipated Scottish Parliament hearing to hit out at his successor, and former close ally, Nicola Sturgeon.His evidence comes just days after he accused other former SNP allies of a ‘malicious’ effort to damage him and remove him from public life.MSPs are investigating the Scottish government’s handling of harassment allegations against the ex-SNP leader, which saw him awarded £512,000. Setting out his position, Mr Salmond accused Ms Sturgeon of using her daily Covid press conference on Wednesday “to effectively question the result of a jury”. He said he “watched with astonishment” her remarks on his 2020 trial, in which he was cleared of sexually assaulting nine women.Ms Sturgeon said on Wednesday: “The behaviour they complained of was found by a jury not to constitute criminal conduct, and Alex Salmond is innocent of criminality.Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekday“But that doesn’t mean that the behaviour they claimed of didn’t happen, and I think it’s important that we don’t lose sight of that.” Mr Salmond claimed the committee he was appearing before had been asked to do its job “with both hands tied behind its back and a blindfold on”.He added: “Scotland hasn’t failed, its leadership has failed.”The importance of this inquiry is for each and everyone of us to help put this right.”Mr Salmond has initially been due to give his evidence on Wednesday.But he dramatically pulled out of that appearance at the eleventh hour amid an extraordinary row over a written submission he made to the committee.This was initially published by the Scottish Parliament on its website earlier this week.But in a shock development, it was later removed and part of the evidence redacted.It was then republished on the website, despite the original document being in the public domain for at least 16 hours.The row was prompted by an intervention from the Crown Office, which oversees the prosecution of crime in Scotland and which expressed concerns over Mr Salmond’s submission. More

Anyone involved in Alex Salmond ‘conspiracy’ should be sacked, MSP saysScotland’s former first minister Alex Salmond is currently giving evidence before the Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish government’s unlawful investigation of sexual harassment claims made against him.In his opening statement, he claimed “the government acted illegally yet somehow no one is to blame” before rejecting calls from his successor Nicola Sturgeon that he should provide evidence to back up his claims of a conspiracy. “I note that the first minister asserts I have to prove a case, I don’t. That has already been done. There have been two court cases, two judges, one jury.”Mr Salmond has previously insisted there is “not a shred of evidence” that there was a conspiracy against Mr Salmond and she has denied lying to parliament amid growing political pressure.He was later acquitted of 13 charges of sexual assault in a criminal trial and awarded a £512,250 payout after successfully challenging the lawfulness of the government investigation.Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayShow latest update
1614350806Salmond claims leak about complaints was ‘politically inspired’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.”Conrad Duncan26 February 2021 14:461614349941From 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.”Conrad Duncan26 February 2021 14:321614349572The 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.Conrad Duncan26 February 2021 14:261614348630Sturgeon was not ‘covering up’, Salmond saysFormer 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.”Conrad Duncan26 February 2021 14:101614348107Slapdown for No 10 aide who branded civil servants ‘aloof, arrogant and remote’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:Conrad Duncan26 February 2021 14:011614347033Lib Dem MSP asks Salmond if he is “sorry” for past behaviourFrom 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”.Conrad Duncan26 February 2021 13:431614346596Salmond says ‘consequences’ should follow from ‘unlawful conduct’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.”Conrad Duncan26 February 2021 13:361614346151Scottish Tory leader says Salmond is ‘right’ about honesty in governmentScottish 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.”Conrad Duncan26 February 2021 13:291614345818Scottish government’s ‘failures of leadership are many and obvious’, Salmond saysAlex 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.”Conrad Duncan26 February 2021 13:231614345436Salmond says treatment by Scottish government has been ‘nightmare’ 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.”Conrad Duncan26 February 2021 13:17 More

Coronavirus could become a “disease of poverty” like tuberculosis and rickets if more is not done to support people on low incomes take time off work to self-isolate, a group of influential scientists have warned.The latest report by Independent Sage admonishes health secretary Matt Hancock for suggesting that it “was a personal responsibility to behave in the right way” to avoid the disease.This approach, they suggest, implies “that disease outcomes are due to individual choices rather than known structural factors, such as access to healthy food, housing and built environments that increase exposure and vulnerability to disease”.The government has so far resisted calls to provide significant support to people who need to self-isolated. The UK has one of the lowest rates of sick pay in Europe and existing extra measures to help people stay at home are only accessible to a small proportion of those asked to do so.Professor Deenan Pillay of University College London, who sits on Independent SAGE said: “With regard to this moving towards becoming a disease of poverty, previous examples such as TB which depend on factors including overcrowding and poor nutrition provide models for what COVID could like in future unless issues associated with deprivation are comprehensively addressed.” The group’s report criticises the fact that there was no mention of inequality in the government’s Covid-10 response Spring 2021 plan.It suggests the state should provide “adequare financial, practical, and if required, extra accomodation to support self-isolation”.Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayOn top of this, the report recommends stepping up workplace protection, investing in vaccine uptake in deprived areas, and increased long-term investment in local public health teams in deprived areas.“Unless active measures are taken, the current association between areas with higher deprivation and proportions of ethnic minority groups and higher rates of, and harm from, COVID will become more pronounced as variation in vaccination uptake rates increases with decreasing age of vaccine recipients,” the report says.Another member of Independent Sage, Doctor Zubaida Haque said: “At every turn the government’s strategy, or lack thereof, throughout this pandemic has failed to protect the most disadvantaged in society and sadly this Roadmap will only exacerbate the problem.
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Boris Johnson has come to the defence of the civil service, in a slapdown to a key aide who branded Whitehall mandarins “aloof, arrogant and remote” and said they needed to open up to new ideas. The comments by newly-appointed Downing Street 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 Covid pandemic.And asked whether the prime minister backed his aide’s comments, a Downing Street spokesman made a point of highlighting Mr Johnson’s “huge admiration” of the work of the civil service and pride in their “amazing” response to coronavirus.Baroness Finn, a close ally of Michael Gove and friend of Mr Johnson’s fiancee Carrie Symonds, was appointed to a senior role in No 10 earlier this month as part of the ongoing shake-up which has seen the replacement of Vote Leave veterans in the wake of the resignation of Dominic Cummings.In an article for the Bright Blue thinktank, she indicated that she will push for reform of Whitehall in her new position.“In the Brexit referendum of 2016, overlooked families and undervalued communities expressed their discontent with a political system they regarded as aloof, arrogant, remote, and centralised,” wrote Lady Finn.“A key part that the civil service can play in drawing together a renewed sense of common purpose is making sure that it draws on all the talents of every part of the UK, and ensuring that decision-makers are acquainted with the challenges faced by those outside the metropolitan bubble.”Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayLady Finn said the civil service “needs to become more open to new ideas and decision making, more commercially aware, and less risk averse”. And she said that as well as relocating jobs outside London, civil service leaders need to “think harder about cognitive diversity” and be more inclusive of different voices and life experiences.“This means breaking up the current career ladder, welcoming people into the service not just for secondments but for periods of two years or more,” she said.The leader of the FDA union for senior civil servants, Dave Penman, said that officials have been “working their socks off” during the pandemic response.He said: ‘If this government is serious about civil service reform, it needs to learn about leadership: Insulting the very people you want to reform — who are already working flat out for a civil service that’s internationally recognised as the best in the world — is entirely self-defeating.”Asked whether Mr Johnson agreed with Lady Finn’s comments, the Downing Street spokesman said: “The PM has huge admiration for the civil service and is immensely proud of the amazing job they have done throughout the pandemic. “The civil service is always seeking to improve and the reforms we’ve already set out are part of our ongoing effort to deliver the best for the people of the UK.“A new programme to transform government is already under way. This is a shared priority for both ministers and civil servants.”He pointed to the recent decision to move Ministry of Housing roles to Wolverhampton as part of an “ambitious” effort to relocate civil service jobs outside London. More

The DUP has been accused of legitimising “malignant forces” after the party’s leadership met with an organisation representing loyalist paramilitary groups to discuss opposition to the Northern Ireland protocol.Arlene Foster, deputy leader Lord Dodds and East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson held talks with the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), a group that represents the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commandos, all of whom the UK Home Office has linked to terrorism.It came just a day after Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and European Commission vice president Maroš Šefcovic announced in a joint statement that both sides are committed to the “proper implementation” of the NI protocol as set out in the terms of the Brexit deal. A DUP spokesman said Thursday’s talks with the LCC had been “constructive and useful” with both parties discussing “constitutional methods” to have the protocol axed.But Northern Ireland’s Alliance Party leader and justice minister Naomi Long said paramilitary organisations “aren’t stakeholders to be consulted”.Ms Foster has defended the talks. NI’s first minister said it was was “absolutely” appropriate for her to meet with the LCC to discuss the protocol and said she would do so again. Anger has been growing within the unionist, or loyalist, community over the protocol ever since it was implemented in January at the end of the Brexit transition period. Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayThe DUP, whose MPs voted for Brexit, claim the new trading arrangements create trade barriers between NI and the rest of Great Britain and therefore pose a threat to NI’s constitutional place within the UK.Under pressure from its grassroots and in the aftermath of a poll showing its support had collapsed over its handling of the protocol, the DUP earlier this year launched an official campaign to have the post-Brexit trading arrangements torn up. Opposition parties say the party is failing to find workable solutions to some of the problems surrounding the protocol.The DUP now has the backing of the Tory party’s hardline European Research Group, whose members left the DUP at the altar last year when they voted for prime minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit withdrawal agreement, including the protocol. A number of unionist parties and politicians are now supporting a legal challenege to the protocol.Mr Johnson earlier this year said he would be willing to trigger a clause in the Brexit deal that would remove the protocol. But that position appears to be slipping away following pushback from the EU and the Irish government, which played a key role in the talks.In their joint statement on Wednesday, following the first meeting of the UK/EU’s Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee since the end of the transition period, Mr Gove and Mr Šefcovic reiterated their desire to find “pragmatic solutions” to the implementation of the protocol and to make it work for the “benefit of everyone”.
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SNP MP Kenny MacAskill said he thought Mr Murrell’s position as a senior figure in the party was inappropriate – given the allegations Mr Salmond has made about him being involved in a plot to bring him down.Mr Salmond will give testimony on Friday afternoon, in a hotly anticipated session at the Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish government’s botched handling of sexual harassment claims.The former first minister has claimed Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon’s chief of staff Liz Lloyd are among senior SNP figures involved in a “malicious and concerted effort” to remove him from public life.“I always thought Mr Murrell’s position was inappropriate. I find it surprising, given the allegations that have been made against him, that he remains in office,” Mr MacAskill told Sky News.Scotland’s former justice secretary added: “I think it’s about time those in charge of the party had him removed, and indeed others who have been working him … the party will go on even though Mr Murrell has to go.”Asked if Ms Sturgeon should lead the party into the Holyrood election in May, Mr MacAskill said: “We’ll have to see what comes … it will be for others to decide.”Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayMr Murrell has previously denied any attempt against Mr Salmond, saying his claims were “without a shred of credible evidence”.Ms Sturgeon – who insisted on Thursday she has no regrets about ensuring complaints against her predecessor – has accused Mr Salmond of coming up with an “alternative reality” of “wild conspiracy” theories.Mr Salmond will be grilled by MSPs for up to four hours when he appears at the Holyrood inquiry committee from 12.30pm on Friday. The former first minister is expected to detail his claims that Ms Sturgeon misled parliament over meetings related to him held in March and April 2018. More

Taxes on the wealthy should go up now, a left-leaning think-tank says – fuelling criticism of Keir Starmer who has called for increases to be shelved.The Labour leader has come under fire for opposing higher corporation tax, expected in next week’s Budget, when a windfall tax on the supermarkets is also mooted.“This is not the time to consider tax rises, we are in the middle of an economic crisis,” Treasury spokesperson James Murray said.But the IPPR has potentially embarrassed Labour by rejecting that argument, insisting some taxes can be raised immediately without “stifling the recovery” from Covid-19.“The fact is some taxes, like corporation tax and capital taxes, can be raised now without slowing the recovery, as long as they are accompanied by a big stimulus,” said Carsten Jung, its senior economist.Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekday“The very low taxes on the wealthiest and corporations widen inequality, are bad for the economy and put public finances on a shaky foundation.“With many businesses and wealth owners having benefitted from unprecedented government support measures throughout the pandemic, it is only fair for those who can afford it to contribute their fair share for a sustainable recovery.”The IPPR wants changes to four taxes:* Capital gains tax – on profits from selling assets, which should be taxed at the same rate as income from employment, raising up to £33bn a year.* Corporation tax – which should go up to 24 per cent, raising £13bn a year.* Inheritance tax – which should be replaced with a fairer ‘lifetime gifts tax’, raising £9bn a year.Momentum, the pro-Corbyn grassroots group has also criticised Labour’s stance – amid suggestions it could find it also in alliance with rebel Tories, blocking tax rises.“During the pandemic big corporations like Amazon have cashed in while working people struggle to get by,” a spokesman said.“Labour should support both raising corporation tax and a special Covid-19 windfall tax for sectors that have made super profits.”Since 2010, the Conservatives have slashed the headline rate of corporation tax from 28 per cent to 19 per cent – but it has failed to stimulate investment, as claimed.There are hints that Labour is softening its stance because of the backlash, and is ready to back a corporation tax increase provided it starts later in the parliament. More

The government has agreed to change the wording in its new maternity leave legislation from referring to “pregnant people” to “mothers” after the phrasing was rejected by the House of Lords – despite gender-neutral language being government convention.The Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill would guarantee up to six months’ leave on full pay.The new bill being fast-tracked through parliament means the attorney general, Suella Braverman, who is expecting her second child, will not have to step down as a minister to get paid time off work after she gives birth.Under existing rules, she would have to resign from her post if she wanted to take time off with her baby.The House of Lords objected to the use of gender-neutral language in the bill, calling for “pregnant people” to be replaced with “mothers”. It has been government policy to write legislation in gender-neutral language since 2007, and the government argued its phrasing was consistent with “drafting convention” before agreeing that the use of “mother” is legally “acceptable”.Cabinet Office minister Lord True told peers: “The language used in this bill is in line with current drafting convention and guidance. It is legally accurate and achieves the aim of ensuring that female ministers can take paid maternity leave.”Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayDuring the bill’s second reading in the House of Lords, Conservative peer Baroness Noakes said the phrasing contributed to “the erasure of women in society”.Discussing the change in language in the legislation, trans community group TransActual UK wrote on Twitter: “Despite the claims of women being ‘erased’ when talking about pregnancy, it is once again trans men and non-binary people that are erased. And when not erased, misgendered by people that cannot bear to acknowledge that we know our own sex/gender better than they do.”The bill has passed the House of Commons and is  is expected to become law soon. Boris Johnson applauded the change, saying: “The choice between taking leave to recover from childbirth and care for a new-born child or resigning from office is not acceptable in modern times.”Keir Starmer also supported the the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill, saying the legislation “should have been brought in a long time ago”.Under the new legislation, the prime minister will have the power to appoint someone else to the minister’s role without exceeding the legal limits on the number of ministers.However, some backbench MPs are angry that the maternity rights will only apply to ministers. Although MPs qualify for paid maternity leave, they are not guaranteed cover, so many do not take time off.Labour MP Stella Creasy, who is also pregnant, recently told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think every woman should be able to have paid maternity cover, proper cover – it’s not just about being paid, it’s that somebody else will be doing that job – so Suella Braverman will be able to take proper leave with her child.”The MP for Walthamstow, who has campaigned for maternity rights, said she was concerned that by limiting the bill’s remit to “women at the top” it sends the message that “maternity leave is a benefit like a company car rather than something that every woman should have”. More