Everything Nicola Sturgeon revealed to Alex Salmond inquiry today - FM grilled by MSPs
| Published date | 03 March 2021 |
| Publication title | EdinburghLive (Scotland) |
The First Minister told MSPs on the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints that the details of complaints against Mr Salmond were "shocking" and his behaviour "was not always appropriate".
She apologised to the public and the women who submitted sexual harassment complaints about her predecessor as First Minister for the Scottish Government's investigation.
Get live as it happens coverage of the evidence session on our live blog.
The inquiry into Mr Salmond was launched after a number of women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment.
But a successful judicial review by Mr Salmond resulted in the investigation being ruled unlawful and "tainted by apparent bias", with a £512,250 payout being awarded to him for legal fees.
For the first time Nicola Sturgeon addressed claims against her party and her government made by the former First Minister and his supporters.
Scroll down to see what Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs in full in her opening statement.
Her opening statement
"The spotlight shone on historic workplace harassment in late 2017 was long overdue.
"It was absolutely right at that time for my government to review its processes, consider any weaknesses and gaps in them, and put in place a procedure that would allow complaints, including those of a historic nature, to be investigated.
"When complaints were made about Alex Salmond it was also absolutely right that the government took them seriously and subjected them to investigation.
"An individual's profile, status or connections should not result in complaints of this nature being ignored or swept under the carpet.
"That in this case it was a former first minister does not change that.
"The procedure that was adopted in late 2017, in the wake of the MeToo concerns, was drafted by civil servants, largely independently of me.
"However, I was kept abreast of its development and I did sign it off."
Mistakes were made
"As a result of a mistake that was made, a very serious mistake, in the investigation of the complaints against Alex Salmond, two women were failed and taxpayers' money was lost.
"I deeply regret that.
"Although I was not aware of the error at the time, I am the head of the Scottish Government, and so I want to take this opportunity to say sorry to the two women involved and to the wider public.
"I also accept - without any reservation - that my actions deserve to be scrutinised.
"Two years ago, I volunteered for such scrutiny by referring matters relating to my contact with Alex Salmond to the independent adviser on the ministerial code, James Hamilton.
"Mr Hamilton is conducting an independent investigation and I await his findings.
"His investigation is not being conducted in public - though of course his conclusions will be published.
"As a result of that, he is able to hear and consider material that, because of a contempt of court order, this committee cannot - including, as I understand it, from people who were actually party to discussions that others, who were not party to those discussions, are seeking to attest to.
"Mr Hamilton has offered no commentary on his investigation and nor will I.
"However, this committee...
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