Want an quick overview of the utter madness and political drama of the Salmond Inquiry this week?
Well, this is the thread for you... 1/15
Well, this is the thread for you... 1/15
Literally within minutes of signing on for work on Monday, it was announced Alex Salmond would not appear in front of the harassmetn complaints committee on Tuesday.
It was meant to be a big week for the committee, and it still ended up being so. 2/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-will-not-appear-front-harassment-complaints-committee-tomorrow-3127252
It was meant to be a big week for the committee, and it still ended up being so. 2/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-will-not-appear-front-harassment-complaints-committee-tomorrow-3127252
Monday's entertainment came in the form of the SNP's chief executive Peter Murrell's second evidence session in front of the committee
In this he refuted accusations he'd committed perjury during his first appearance. 3/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-snp-chief-executive-absolutely-refutes-perjury-accusations-3127390
In this he refuted accusations he'd committed perjury during his first appearance. 3/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-snp-chief-executive-absolutely-refutes-perjury-accusations-3127390
His appearance was mostly memorable due to the fact one of the few questions he gave a straight answer to was about the magpies outside his window.
Inquiry members were not impressed... 4/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-peter-murrells-evidence-session-tantamount-attempting-mislead-people-scotland-3128093
Inquiry members were not impressed... 4/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-peter-murrells-evidence-session-tantamount-attempting-mislead-people-scotland-3128093
Timed alongside Murrell's appearance was this intervention from Sue Ruddick, an incident that led to Mr Salmond's camp issuing a counter-claim on the incident mentioned in her statement. 5/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-bullying-and-intimidation-complainers-must-stop-demands-snp-official-3127674
I wrote this piece of analysis on Monday for @TheScotsman on the Salmond Inquiry at a point where it felt it was all potentially coming apart. 6/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/analysis-alex-salmond-inquiry-just-waste-everyones-time-3128183
Tuesday rolls around and we find out about the Spectator's court case on Thursday and the importance ascribed to it by the Salmond camp.
On the same day, the committee votes it cannot publish the former FM's evidence on the ministerial code. 7/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-thursday-high-court-application-key-committee-votes-against-publishing-crucial-evidence-former-first-minister-3129537
On the same day, the committee votes it cannot publish the former FM's evidence on the ministerial code. 7/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-thursday-high-court-application-key-committee-votes-against-publishing-crucial-evidence-former-first-minister-3129537
More on the details of The Spectator's case here from Wednesday:
8/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/spectator-magazine-set-crucial-legal-action-linked-alex-salmond-evidence-harassment-complaints-inquiry-3130178
8/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/spectator-magazine-set-crucial-legal-action-linked-alex-salmond-evidence-harassment-complaints-inquiry-3130178
On Wednesday, we also discovered that John Swinney had been 'rubber-stamping' redactions and submissions to the committee, something described as normal by officials. 9/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-john-swinney-rubber-stamped-redactions-material-passed-harassment-committee-3130182
I also revealed that Nicola Sturgeon has had no legal advice ahead of her appearance in front of the committee.
Unlike her civil servants, the First Minister did not seek or receive any legal advice, externally of the Scottish Gov or internally. 10/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/sturgeon-has-received-no-legal-advice-over-salmond-inquiry-government-claims-3129598
Unlike her civil servants, the First Minister did not seek or receive any legal advice, externally of the Scottish Gov or internally. 10/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/sturgeon-has-received-no-legal-advice-over-salmond-inquiry-government-claims-3129598
Nicola Sturgeon was also pressed hard by Jackie Baillie as to whether she would resign if it was found she had breached the ministerial code in a fiery #FMQs
@wornoutmumhack with the story from the debate... 11/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/fmqs-nicola-sturgeon-under-pressure-say-she-will-resign-if-found-have-broken-ministerial-code-3130435
@wornoutmumhack with the story from the debate... 11/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/fmqs-nicola-sturgeon-under-pressure-say-she-will-resign-if-found-have-broken-ministerial-code-3130435
Then came Thursday, and a ruling from Lady Dorrian in Edinburgh's High Court that the Salmond camp believe will allow his evidence to be published and him appear.
Another twist in the tale. 12/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/spectator-magazine-wins-legal-challenge-could-allow-alex-salmond-inquiry-publish-crucial-evidence-3131868
Another twist in the tale. 12/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/spectator-magazine-wins-legal-challenge-could-allow-alex-salmond-inquiry-publish-crucial-evidence-3131868
An emergency meeting of the committee was called for by two of its most high profile members.
Floated was the idea of compelling Mr Salmond to appear, a move backed by Nicola Sturgeon during #FMQs. 13/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/moves-compel-alex-salmond-give-evidence-amid-calls-emergency-meeting-harassment-committee-3132093
Floated was the idea of compelling Mr Salmond to appear, a move backed by Nicola Sturgeon during #FMQs. 13/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/moves-compel-alex-salmond-give-evidence-amid-calls-emergency-meeting-harassment-committee-3132093
Finally, to today.
The committee agree a work programme that delayed the FM's appearance in front of the committee and allowed time for Lady Dorrian's judgement to be digested.
It sets up a box office two weeks at the end of this month.14/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-path-cleared-alex-salmond-give-evidence-committee-delays-nicola-sturgeons-evidence-session-3133465
The committee agree a work programme that delayed the FM's appearance in front of the committee and allowed time for Lady Dorrian's judgement to be digested.
It sets up a box office two weeks at the end of this month.14/15 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-path-cleared-alex-salmond-give-evidence-committee-delays-nicola-sturgeons-evidence-session-3133465
And, of course, the best place to follow this as it unfolds is @TheScotsman's website.
You can subscribe here: https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions and there is 20% off for Valentine's Day. 15/15
You can subscribe here: https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions and there is 20% off for Valentine's Day. 15/15