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Nicola Sturgeon facing questions after David Davis MP used parliamentary privilege to reveal messages
Ex-Cabinet minister said one suggested her chief of staff Liz Lloyd interfered in Salmond case in February
Ms Sturgeon has insisted that she was not aware of complaints against Mr Salmond until months later
He also said a whistleblower passed him messages between senior SNP officials, including Peter Murrell
Mr Davis said messages suggest a concerted effort to encourage complaints about the former First Minister
Ms Sturgeon has denied breaking ministerial code and rejected claims of conspiracy against Mr Salmond
BBC News
Holyrood Inquiry into Salmond case: MP David Davis reads out text exchange
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Conservative MP David Davis has used parliamentary privilege to criticise the Scottish government s handling of allegations against Alex Salmond.
Mr Davis said: I have it on good authority that there exists from the 6th February 2018 an exchange of messages between civils servants, Judith McKinnon and Barbara Allison, suggesting that the first ministers chief of staff is interfering in the complaints process against Alex Salmond. The investigating officer complained “Liz interference v bad”. I assume that means ‘very bad’. If true, this suggests that the chief of staff had knowledge of the Salmond case in February [2018] and not in April.
David Davis MP insists he was very careful with claims Nicola Sturgeon knew of Alex Salmond complaints earlier
The veteran Tory MP said he had been initially sceptical about Salmond conspiracy claims but spent six weeks preparing a speech that protected complainers and, he claimed, uncovered an injustice.
Updated
David Davis MP made Commons claims using parliamentary privilege (Image: Hull Daily Mail)
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In a statement issued through Rape Crisis Scotland, the woman said the claims were fundamentally untrue . First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also strongly refuted the allegations after being quizzed over the issue at her regular coronavirus briefing. It comes after Mr Davis used parliamentary privilege to claim messages disclosed by a whistleblower show there was a concerted effort by senior members of the SNP to encourage complaints against the former first minister. He also alleged messages exist that suggest Ms Sturgeon’s chief of staff, Liz Lloyd, had been “interfering” in the complaints process in February 2018. A Holyrood inquiry is looking at how the Scottish Government botched a probe into sexual misconduct claims made against Mr Salmond in 2018.