How Nicola Sturgeon's court battle with Alex Salmond ran up £512k bill

Get the latest Scottish crime and courts news sent straight to your inbox with our Criminal Record newsletter.Alex Salmond has suggested there are routes to independence other than the legally-backed second referendum favoured by Nicola Sturgeon.Salmond, who quit the SNP when he faced sexual assault charges of which he was later cleared, said the aim of his new party was to work towards a “successful, socially just, environmentally responsible, independent country”.The former First Minister said

Covid-19 pandemic. The Holyrood Government has announced plans to offer more than 154,000 NHS staff in Scotland a pay rise of at least four per cent.

Scottish Parliament election campaign. Scots will head to the poll on May 6 in what is expected to be a crucial election for the future of Sturgeon's independence dream.

NHS workers have been offered a 'substantial' pay rise after an 'exceptionally challenging year'.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced 'our NHS staff deserve more than applause and 1% is not enough' after putting a 4% raise on the table.If accepted by staff, would be the most generous National Health Service pay uplift anywhere in the UK.The pay rise will benefit 154,000 NHS employees including nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals, as well as domestic, healthcare support staff,

Scotland ’s most senior civil servant.

Janey Godley 's latest video had fans in stitches as she took a swipe at Scots Tory Ruth Davidson. Yesterday, the Tories at Holyrood lodged the motion on the First Minister over her government's botched handling of the complaints against Alex Salmond.

Nicola Sturgeon will face questions from fellow MSPs at First Minister's Questions this afternoon.It is expected to begin around 12.30 in the Scottish Parliament, and beforehand the First Minister will give the latest update on the current coronavirus statistics.It comes as the Western Isles will today move to level three of lockdown restrictions from 6pm.Announcing the change yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said the Outer Hebrides would return to the level that currently applies to Orkney and

Scottish Parliament later today. The Scottish Tories said they will press ahead with a vote in First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after a Holyrood committee found she misled parliament.

First Minister leaked last week, ruled that she had given an "inaccurate" account of a meeting with her predecessor during her Government’s botched probe into him. Set up in 2019, the Committee has been investigating the SNP Government’s mis-handling of sexual misconduct complaints against Salmond when he was First Minister.Salmond pursued a judicial review and it was agreed the Government probe, which destroyed his friendship with Sturgeon, had been unlawful and tainted by apparent bias.

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First Minister 's resignation amid accusations she misled parliament about her involvement in the Alex Salmond investigation. It followed a leak that the inquiry into the Government's unlawful investigation into harassment complaints against the former first minister has reportedly concluded that Ms Sturgeon gave an "inaccurate" account of meetings with Mr Salmond.

Nicola Sturgeon’s extreme career highs and lows.In October she could do no wrong, with support for ­Scottish independence soaring to 58 per cent on the back of her ­handling of the pandemic.Now the First ­Minister is facing calls to resign over claims she misled Parliament and a ­committee of MSPs while giving evidence under oath.If the latter charge in relation to her appearance before the Alex Salmond inquiry is proven, it could be more than her job on the line.Supporters will insist the

Linda Fabiani (Convener)Long-serving SNP MSP who has been deputy presiding officer of the Scottish parliament since 2016. No friend of Salmond, who replaced her as Europe Minister halfway through the SNP’s first term in office.

First Minister provided detailed dates of when the country can expect to begin opening back up.Nicola Sturgeon said a phased re-opening will begin next month with the Stay at Home message being dropped on April 2.On April 5, hairdressers, garden centres, click and collect services and some non-essential retail can open.On April 12, all children will return to classrooms full time.By April 26, all non-essential retail will open, tourist accommodation, gyms, and outdoor hospitality with a

coronavirus deaths and 625 new cases in last 24 hours The First Minister released the figures from St Andrews House in Nicola Sturgeon.

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Nicola Sturgeon on March 2, the day before she appeared before the inquiry investigating the handling of harassment complaints against former first minister Alex Salmond.On BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Andrea Bradley, the assistant secretary of the EIS teaching union, said the Scottish Government was looking for a "good news story that week".However, Ms Sturgeon had previously announced the earliest date for some pupils to return to school would be March 15.On Monday, Education Secretary John

Dunblane massacre will be 'forever in our hearts' as Scotland remembers the tragedy 25 years on.The First Minister took to twitter to call the day 'one of the darkest and most heartbreaking in Scotland’s history'.On March 13, 1996, crazed gunman Thomas Hamilton murdered 16 primary school children and their teacher in Dunblane, sending shockwaves of grief around the world.Hamilton then took his own life.The murder spree remains Britain's deadliest mass shootings and lead to large-scale reforms on

Prestwick, South Ayrshire, gave her doting dad Jamie a dressing down over 'not washing his hands' this week.The tot's lecture was caught on camera as management consultant Jamie joked his daughter could apply to be one of the National Clinical Director Jason Leitch's understudies.Jamie, 41, wrote on social media: "Nicola Sturgeon, heard about Jason Leitch recruiting for understudies."Please find enclosed another candidate application."Little Rosie donned her bright pink stethoscope before

First Minister is taking questions from MSPs on the coronavirus committee at Holyrood.Nicola Sturgeon is being quizzed on her handling of the pandemic and how Scotland will exit lockdown in the next couple of weeks and months.MSPs will ask Nicola Sturgeon, and Dr Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, a number of questions on the pandemic.The meeting will take place virtually and can be viewed on the Scottish Government website.