Holyrood Inquiry submission by Alex Salmond's former chief of staff will not be published

Salmond available.A parliamentary source believes Salmond will not now give oral evidence in front of MSPs.The special Holyrood committee is investigating the Scottish Government’s botched handling of sexual misconduct complaints against the former first minister.Salmond took the government to court in 2018 and it was accepted the internal probe had been unlawful.The fiasco ended the friendship between Nicola Sturgeon and Salmond, whose allies believe he was targeted by Government and SNP

SNP in-fighting over the treatment of former leader Alex Salmond erupted again last night over claims he had been reported to the police over an alleged assault.The party’s chief operating officer, Sue Ruddick, said she called the cops over an act of “physical aggression” by Salmond.But Anne Harvey – an assistant to the chief whip for the SNP at Westminster – denied the claims, which she said related to an incident before a by-election in 2008.She said: “I can categorically confirm that there

Our Politics newsletter is now daily.

Our Politics newsletter is now daily.

Scottish Government paid thousands of pounds to a team of top lawyers to try to block MSPs probing Alex Salmond’s botched sexual harassment case from hearing key evidence. The Sunday Mail has obtained ­documents showing a firm – hired using public cash – demanded ­investigating ­committee members give written guarantees they wouldn’t ask a ­senior official crucial questions.

Salmond.

Nicola Sturgeon announced the latest figures at the daily Covid-19 briefing where she revealed there had been a further 1,149 cases of the virus overnight. Read more.

Salmond.

former First Minister then alleged his successor u-turned by deciding against intervening in the explosive case.

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.

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

to answer questions in person on any day in the week beginning February 8. In a letter to MSPs published today, Salmond's solicitor David McKie said: "If necessary he is prepared to consider giving evidence in an alternative format although he (and the committee) would prefer an in-person session."Committee convener Linda Fabiani had previously invited to Salmond to give evidence this month and expressed her disappointment after that was timescale was rejected.

Salmond prepares to hear from both senior nationalist figures. The government probe was found in court to have been unlawful.

Our Politics newsletter is now daily.

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".

Twitter is dragging its heels over the removal of the name of a woman who accused Alex Salmond of sexual asault.She was illegally outed on the online network but, despite repeated pleas for it to be removed, her case has been described as “closed”.The company has told her she could submit a new case and, instead of just deleting the post, directed her to “self-help solutions”.More than a week later it is still online – despite publication breaking the law.A friend of the woman said: “When Police

Peter Murrell, who is SNP chief executive, has been contacted after criticism of his answers on the use of the WhatsApp messaging service and meetings at his home.

Our Politics newsletter is now daily.