MSPS have begun taking evidence in their investigation into the Scottish Government’s handling of complaints against Alex Salmond.
The parliamentary inquiry was set up in January 2019 after the Scottish Government conceded an internal investigation of sexual misconduct complaints against the former First Minister had been unlawful.
But the probe was put on hold when criminal charges were levelled against Salmond. The former First Minister was acquitted of all charges in March. The committee began taking evidence in oral sessions yesterday.
A cross-party panel of nine MSPs is headed by deputy presiding officer and SNP MSP Linda Fabiani. Their remit is to “consider and report on the actions of the First Minister, Scottish Government officials and special advisers in dealing with complaints about Alex Salmond”. The Scottish Government conceded defeat in a judicial review of their inquiry and paid the former First Minister more than £500,000 in legal costs.
READ MORE: Alex Salmond probe begins with apology from Leslie Evans
At the heart of the inquiry is an internal investigation conducted into two complaints against Salmond, dating back to when he was in office. He maintained his innocence and contended the way the probe had been handled was “unfair and unjust”.
The two sides agreed that there had been a “failure” by the Government in following a recently devised process, and that the report resulting from the probe “could not be allowed to stand”.
After the civil servants’ complaints were submitted in January 2018, an investigating officer was appointed to the case – but it transpired she had previously had contact with both complainers, in breach of the government’s own rules.
There is a dispute about the extent of this contact. Salmond’s side insists it bordered on “encouragement”, while the Government insists it was “welfare support and guidance”.
The committee will examine how the complaints procedure was drawn up, how it was applied and where it fell down in the case of Salmond, and what lessons have been learnt.
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