Alex Salmond fears criminal prosecution if he gives evidence to Holyrood inquiry

Nicola Sturgeon received legal advice that her Government would lose in court to Alex Salmond months before blowing £692,000 fighting his judicial review.Scotland’s most senior lawyer Roddy Dunlop QC was asked for an opinion on the former first minister’s challenge to a sexual harassment probe in October 2018, the Sunday Mail understands.Sources have confirmed his response was that the former SNP leader would be likely to win.

Sea Shanty hitmaker Nathan Evans has admitted Alexa is having problems playing his song to fans.The postie and Tik Toker from Airdrie who just signed a deal with Polydor records has been racing his way up to the top of the charts with his viral sea shanty Wellerman and is currently at number three in the UK.However, not everyone who has tried to hear his song has managed to get hold of it - because Alexa keeps playing them the wrong version.For some bizarre reason Alexa keeps defaulting to

Alex Salmond during an interview with the Irish Times on Thursday.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Domestic abuse incidents are declining in Renfrewshire despite fears they would rocket during the coronavirus lockdown, according to fresh statistics.Figures from Police Scotland show there were 1,302 reports between April and October last year, which represents a drop of almost eight per cent when compared to the same period in 2019.Meanwhile, the number of crimes or offences raised as a result of reports

Child Benefit for their care. This number helps identify you on UK and Scottish Government systems, including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Social Security Scotland.

Peter Murrell' s answers in front of MSPs.

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Scottish police fear losing the right to extradite serious criminals from many EU states, including Germany and Poland, as a result of Brexit.The UK assured the 27 remaining countries that it would continue to co-operate with them all if a UK citizen was wanted for a serious crime on the continent.But 13 of them resolved to refuse future extradition requests from the UK because of fears the human rights of their citizens would not be respected post-Brexit.Extradition was used in 2008 to bring

Scottish Government not to probe potentially criminal harassment claims- warning that staff were not trained to investigate or "engage with victims". Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor also said the Government asked Police Scotland "a number of hypothetical questions" about its harassment policy that appeared to be about a "specific set of circumstances".

weather forecast for the fortnight in the UK beginning from February 3. Experts say that low pressure is likely to bring an ‘increased risk’ of snowfall in the the north of the country.

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Scottish Government for at least nine months but ministers insist it is safe for nurses to use in hospital settings while dealing with Covid patients.However, with the more transmissible new strain of the virus now dominant in Scotland, nurses are again raising concerns – and this time they have the backing of medical experts who agree their PPE is far from adequate.Doctors’ union the BMA and the GMB union have both called for “urgent improvements in PPE”.And an open letter signed by 1500

Jeane Freeman outlined the timetable as she confirmed another 2,160 positive infections and 61 deaths in a single day. Freeman said tests will be offered for home carers without symptoms from Monday next week, ahead of an earlier March timescale.

coronavirus. No one will be allowed to enter the country from Scotland via air or sea until 6pm on February 2 under the new restrictions.But there are exceptions to Spanish nationals and those who are a legal resident in Spain.

challenging year in living memory” in 2020.He warned of a recession and jobs crisis caused by the pandemic “which will likely takes years to recover from”.Meanwhile Mairi Spowage, deputy director of the Fraser of Allander Institute economic think tank, said joblessness is likely to “rise significantly” when the UK Government’s furlough scheme is wound up at the end of April.The latest chambers of commerce report on the economy, covering the final three months of 2020, showed business confidence

snow, ice and sleet is expected across large parts of the country.The Met Office has issued a amber weather warning for heavy snow and ice with the population told to brace for another bout of plummeting temperatures.Heavy snow is expected across large parts of Scotland from 3pm to 10am on Thursday morning, with warnings weather will cause power cuts and roads being blocked.

John Lewis is the first major retailer in Scotland to suspend its click and collect services amid a shopping crackdown. The high street giant said it was responding to a "clear change in tone and emphasis" from the government as millions are urged to stay at home.

breaking parliamentary rules. It was revealed over the weekend that a former prosecutor is considering widening his probe into whether Sturgeon breached the ministerial code over the Salmond case.

Salmond accused his successor of breaching the ministerial code.A special Holyrood Inquiry is examining how in 2018 the Scottish Government bungled sexual misconduct complaints against the former First Minister.Salmond lodged a judicial review and it was accepted that the Government probe, which cost the taxpayer over £500,00, had been unlawful.The fiasco destroyed the friendship between Sturgeon and Salmond, whose allies believe he was targeted by the Government and SNP figures.Hamilton, a