What next for Nicola Sturgeon after ‘misled parliament’ verdict
First minister facing rising pressure to resign after Holyrood inquiry judgment
Nicola Sturgeon is in a fight for her political life after Holyrood’s inquiry into the handling of abuse allegations against Alex Salmond found she misled parliament in her written evidence to the committee.
A narrow majority of five votes to four found the first minister gave an “inaccurate account” of her meetings with Salmond in a ruling leaked to Sky News from inside the committee room last night.
The broadcaster’s Scotland correspondent James Matthews said the committee found that Sturgeon, who succeeded Salmond as leader of the SNP and first minister of Scotland in 2014, had “misled parliament and potentially breached the ministerial code of conduct”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The ruling centres around an April 2018 meeting between Sturgeon and Salmond, and whether she offered to intervene in the government’s investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against him, a claim Sturgeon denies. But Salmond insists Sturgeon did make such an offer and the inquiry agreed.
“Taking account of the competing versions of the event, the committee believes that she did in fact leave Alex Salmond with the impression that she would, if necessary, intervene,” the committee’s findings are expected to read, according to Sky News.
Sturgeon last night disputed the findings of the inquiry, which she said she found “not that surprising”. She told the broadcaster that “opposition members of this committee made their minds up before I muttered a single word of evidence”.
It’s a “remarkable conclusion”, says The Guardian, “but the committee has stopped short of ruling she did so ‘knowingly’”. It is this distinction that could be key to saving the first minister’s political career as the Scottish ministerial code reads that “ministers who knowingly mislead the Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Regardless, “the decision is likely to increase pressure on Sturgeon to stand down before May’s election”, says The Herald, adding that opposition parties have “scented blood”.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross called for her resignation, saying: “We cannot set a precedent that a first minister of Scotland can mislead the Scottish Parliament and get away with it.” Ross has already made preparations to push for a vote of no confidence against the SNP leader, but this is likely to be “doomed”, Politico's London Playbook reports.
“Without wishing to dismiss the importance of the Salmond inquiry, the investigation that really matters is that of James Hamilton,” The Scotsman says.
Hamilton’s investigation into whether Sturgeon broke the ministerial code is expected to be published very soon. If it finds in her favour, it will provide Sturgeon with a much-needed “buffer” against the allegations, the paper adds.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sorcha Bradley is a writer at The Week and a regular on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. She worked at The Week magazine for a year and a half before taking up her current role with the digital team, where she mostly covers UK current affairs and politics. Before joining The Week, Sorcha worked at slow-news start-up Tortoise Media. She has also written for Sky News, The Sunday Times, the London Evening Standard and Grazia magazine, among other publications. She has a master’s in newspaper journalism from City, University of London, where she specialised in political journalism.
-
Shardlake: a 'tightly plotted, gorgeously atmospheric piece of television'
The Week Recommends Arthur Hughes captivates in this 'eminently watchable' Tudor murder mystery
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Major League Baseball is facing an epidemic of pitcher's injuries
Under the Radar Many insiders are blaming the pitch clock for the rise in injuries — but the league is not so sure
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
8 movie musicals that prove the screen can share the stage
The Week Recommends The singing and dancing, bigger than life itself
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
John Swinney: the SNP's ultimate 'safe pair of hands'
Why Everyone's Talking About Former leader described as a 'serious person for serious times' is front runner to replace Humza Yousaf
By The Week UK Published
-
Humza Yousaf clears the decks to battle no-confidence vote
Speed Read First minister is 'done', according to insider, but a single vote could change the balance
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published