KEIR Starmer has come under fire for saying "there should be a resignation" if Nicola Sturgeon is found to have breached the ministerial code over the way the Scottish Government handled the Alex Salmond case.
A leak to the press found the Holyrood committee set up to deal with the Salmond case concluded the First Minister gave an “inaccurate” account of meeting with her predecessor during the live investigation.
This would amount to misleading the Scottish Parliament, however it is unclear whether this would be deemed a resignation-worthy offence.
The ministerial code dictates that any minister found to knowingly be in breach should resign. However, Sky News reported that the word "knowingly" was not included in the text agreed by the committee.
READ MORE: Patrick Harvie says Salmond inquiry 'destroyed credibility of report' with leak
Sturgeon argued the committee’s MSPs had already “made their minds up” before she had given evidence.
The report, which is still being considered by the committee, is due to be published in the coming days.
The First Minister described the leak of the committee’s findings as “very partisan” and said she was not surprised if they did not believe her testimony.
She told Sky News she stood by her evidence and said: “What’s been clear is that opposition members of this committee made their minds up about me before I muttered a single word of evidence, their public comments have made that clear.
“So this leak from the committee – very partisan leak – tonight [Thursday] before they’ve finalised the report is not that surprising.”
But the Labour leader said Sturgeon questioning the integrity of the committee before the report has been published is “exactly what she’s accusing other people of doing”.
READ MORE: Patrick Harvie says Salmond inquiry 'destroyed credibility of report' with leak
Speaking while on a two-day visit to Scotland, Starmer said: “By making those comments before she’s seen the report, she’s doing the very thing that she’s accusing others of.
“The right thing for her to do is to wait for the report and to read the report – as we all will.
“But to say now, several days beforehand, what she said about the outcome is to do exactly what she’s accusing other people of doing.
“So I think the right thing to do is to wait for the report.
“If the report does come to serious findings then they have implications.”
“The First Minister was absolutely clear in the foreword to the [ministerial] code that she would lead by example and therefore she would follow the letter and the spirit of the code."
READ MORE: Salmond inquiry member takes dig at whoever leaked committee report to media
Twitter users said Starmer was being hypocritical, with many saying he has not asked Boris Johnson or Priti Patel to resign.
1.
Keir Starmer has said Nicola Sturgeon should resign *if* she's broke the ministerial code.
— Jack Turner 🥔 (@Jack_Potato15) March 19, 2021
Yet when Tory ministers broke the ministerial code like Priti Patel, Starmer didn't demand her resignation. When Matt Hancock broke the law, Starmer didn't call for his resignation.
2.
Tory MPs - & now Keir Starmer - calling for Nicola Sturgeon to resign should remember that Boris Johnson & his ministers breach every one of the 7 Principles of Public Life on a daily basis.
— Tom Scott (@Tom___Scott) March 19, 2021
Johnson’s own adviser on the ministerial code resigned after the PM backed bully Patel. pic.twitter.com/X0ehqpR8Gy
3.
Keir Starmer is a Tory. He's been a Labour member
— Daniel Grigg (@Daniel_Grigg) March 19, 2021
Defending Matt Hancock, Priti Patel and Boris Johnson while demanding Nicola Sturgeon, Jeremy Corbyn and anyone even vaguely social democrat or pro-reducing inequality.
I've seen Tory backbenchers less in the PM's back pocket. pic.twitter.com/mtR20mOXPC
4.
🤦🤦🤦🤦 @Keir_Starmer Boris Johnson misleads parliament every week. Priti Patel broke ministerial code yet, nothing happens. Asking for Nicola Sturgeon's resignation will not deter Scotland from wanting to leave union. Poor show Keir. https://t.co/xI2ZSjqqnO
— Cath #Standup 💙💔 💚🐝 (@dem_cath) March 19, 2021
5.
Unfortunately Keir Starmer looks like a raging hypocrite considering he backed Matt Hancock keeping his job despite corrupt PPE contracts. https://t.co/c9mwE3aYdj
— Alex Tiffin - FND, BPD (@RespectIsVital) March 19, 2021
6.
So Keir Starmer, who pointedly refused to demand the resignation of Conservative Ministers, including the Prime Minister, who broke the law, acted corruptly and misled Parliament, is calling for Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation?
— Mountain (@sharpeleven) March 19, 2021
Where do you even begin?
7.
The same Keir Starmer who wants the Health Secretary who unlawfully published PPE contracts while firing off piles of cash to his unqualified pub landlord buddies to remain in post https://t.co/xmdkIq9vLS
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) March 19, 2021
Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, said the leak was “completely unacceptable” but the SNP leader subsequently made a “very dangerous allegation”.
“I think that accusation calls into question the very processes of our parliament, calls into question the very principles of our democracy around accountability and transparency, and that accusation calls into question every committee inquiry we’ve ever had in the Scottish Parliament or indeed at Westminster,” he said.
“This committee has been very, very frustrated, for the last two years, including SNP members of that committee, about the obstructions that have been put in front of that committee.
“So let’s respect the committee’s work, because they’ve been disrespected by the Scottish Government for the last two years.
“Let’s respect the committee’s work, let respect the individuals on that committee, and let’s respect the findings of that committee when the report is published next week.”
Asked about the implications if the First Minister is found to have misled parliament but not deliberately, Sarwar said: “A breach is a breach and a misleading of the parliament is a misleading of the Parliament.
“Only the First Minister herself can say or judge whether she knowingly did it or unknowingly did it, but there is the principle of corroboration, and what we’ve seen from reports is that there are three individuals who say, a situation happened, and the First Minister, refutes [sic] that claim.”
He added: “I don’t think we should hide behind an ‘inadvertent’ or ‘knowingly’ kind of claim.
“Misleading is misleading, a breach is a breach, and I think we would expect our ministers, regardless of party or of personality, to be held to the highest standards.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel