[ad_1]
Nicola Sturgeon insists she has “nothing to hide” about the Alex Salmond investigation, after she was accused of misleading parliament about when she first learned of the allegations against her.
The prime minister previously said that she first learned of the complaints against her predecessor when he told her at a meeting at his home on April 2, 2018.
But it has since emerged that she was briefed during a meeting with former Salmond chief of staff Geoff Aberdein several days earlier, on March 29.
Alex Salmond was acquitted of sexual assault charges earlier this year.
Lord Salmond I was acquitted of 13 counts of sexual assault, attempted rape and indecent exposure at the Edinburgh High Court in March 2020.
The case followed legal actions taken by Mr. Salmond, which determined that the handling of the complaints against him by the Scottish government had been illegal. He received more than £ 500,000.
Mrs. Sturgeon He said he had forgotten about the meeting with Mr. Aberdein as evidence presented to a committee set up to investigate the matter.
During the Prime Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Sturgeon was questioned by Holyrood Conservative Leader Ruth Davidson on whether her claim to have forgotten was “credible.”
Sturgeon said, “I understand why people look at that and raise an eyebrow.
“There is something etched in my memory and it is actually the meeting that took place about three days later when Alex Salmond himself sat in my own house and gave me the details of the complaints that had been made against him and also gave me your answer”. aspects of those complaints.
“That’s what it etched into my memory and I think most reasonable people would understand.
“Forgive me if that has somehow overwritten in my mind a much more fleeting and opportunistic meeting that took place a few days before, that’s how it is.”
The prime minister added repeatedly that she wants to appear before the committee to answer any questions the MSPs may have, adding that she is “eager” to provide evidence.
Ruth Davidson said the prime minister’s explanation was ‘incredible’
Ms Davidson said the explanation given by the prime minister “does not stand up to even the slightest scrutiny”, adding that it is “unbelievable”.
But Ms. Sturgeon responded, “That is the fact, other people may decide to give their own evidence. I will give mine and sit before a committee when the committee decides to call me and I will do so under oath and I will.” give my account of what happened.
“I have nothing to hide in all this.”
Ms Davidson went on to ask the prime minister if he thinks a judge-led investigation should be launched to look at the handling of complaints, an idea put forward by SNP MSP Alex Neil.
Sturgeon said: “There is an ongoing parliamentary investigation that I have presented evidence of and that I will sit in front of it and testify orally, I will do so under oath.
“I have nothing to hide in all this. I have had two years or more of people making accusations about my behavior.
“It is not my behavior that caused this, I have tried to act in the appropriate way; if I have made mistakes along the way, I will say so and people can make their judgments.”
“But I have tried to do the right thing and I will keep trying to do the right thing.”
