Words by ITV News Multimedia Producer Ann Yip
Leaked text messages suggest senior members in the Scottish National Party, including Nicola Sturgeon s husband, pressurised complainants and meddled with the police investigation of Alex Salmond, an MP told the Commons.
Using his parliamentary privilege, David Davis, MP for Haltemprice and Howden, discussed the Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish government’s unlawful investigation of sexual harassment allegations against the former first minister.
Mr Salmond was cleared of 13 charges at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2020.
The MP said SNP Chief Executive Officer Peter Murrell, who is Mrs Sturgeon s husband, coordinated Sue Ruddick and Iain McCann in the handling of complainants and that there was a concerted effort by senior members of the SNP to encourage complaints .
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Video report by ITV Scotland Correspondent Peter Smith
Nicola Sturgeon is being forced to fight for her political life after the Scottish Conservatives submitted a no-confidence vote to parliament and called for her to resign over the handling of the Alex Salmond inquiry.
Earlier the Scottish government published the legal advice it received about the investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by the former first minister.
The advice revealed the government carried on with the inquiry despite reservations being raised by the legal counsel and being told they were likely going to lose the case.
In January 2018, the Scottish government launched an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by Mr Salmond but it was found to be unlawful, unfair and “tainted by apparent bias” because of prior contact between the investigating officer and two of the women who complained.
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Video report by ITV News Scotland Correspondent Peter Smith
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she is kicking herself after she breached Covid rules when she took off her mask at a funeral.
Ms Sturgeon apologised for the breach and told MSP s: I want to be clear today that regardless of the circumstances I was in the wrong, there are no excuses. These rules do apply to me just as they do everyone else, and the rules really matter I am kicking myself very hard, possibly harder than my worst critic ever could.
A photograph published in the Scottish Sun showed the First Minister chatting to three women in a bar while standing at a distance but without wearing a mask.