Scotland’s first minister is appearing before MSPs, amid multiple allegations that she broke the ministerial code
The committee hearing has commenced. It is convened by the SNP’s Linda Fabiani who is just setting out the background and rules.
I have already mentioned Salmond’s lawyer, Duncan Hamilton. Other key characters whose names are likely to come up in the committee hearing, include
Peter Murrell, Sturgeon’s husband and chief executive of the SNP.
The Scottish Conservatives have just set out plans to hold votes of no confidence in the deputy first minister, John Swinney, and then first minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The party will propose a vote of no confidence in Swinney is held today to try to force the government into publishing the remaining legal advice. The Scottish Conservatives say the advice published last night contained only excerpts and key evidence had clearly been omitted.
The Scottish Conservatives have seen enough to know that the government ignored legal advice for months and lost more than £500,000 of taxpayers’ money. We also know that evidence from three credible witnesses confirms that Nicola Sturgeon misled the Scottish Parliament with numerous false statements.
The evidence published so far is devastating to the first minister and the government. We will table our motion for a vote of no confidence today as a result.
