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The Guardian Scotland Correspondent, Libby brooks, analyzes the confusion within the SNP, with Rachel Humphreys. Today Nicola Sturgeon testifies to the Scottish Parliament investigation into the government’s handling of allegations of sexual assault against Alex Salmond. Sturgeon has been accused by the former prime minister of possibly violating the ministerial code and is subject to a second investigation that will examine this.
Yesterday, John Swinney, Scotland’s Deputy Prime Minister, agreed to release his government’s legal advice on the Salmond court action after facing all-party censorship in Holyrood. It reveals that the Scottish government was warned by its senior lawyers that it was facing defeat in an ultimately successful legal action by Alex Salmond. The guide, published by Scottish ministers on Tuesday, confirms that their two lawyers told them that the disclosure that a senior official had previously met and briefed two whistleblowers against Salmond had devastating consequences for his case. There was more news yesterday when evidence from two other witnesses called Ms Sturgeon’s version of events into question. Text messages between senior party and government officials, which Salmond claimed last Friday indicated that witnesses and police were pressured to pursue their criminal charges in order to pass judicial review, were also handed over to the investigation.
Libby looks at the impact this could have on the SNP and its fight for a second referendum on independence. Scotland is only a few months away from going to the polls. The way the allegations against Salmond have been handled could also have a devastating impact. for the #MeToo movement and the reporting of sexual assault and rape in Scotland, says Libby.
Photograph: Murdo MacLeod / The Guardian
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