Sturgeon -v- Salmond. This is going to be very interesting. Is the SNP finished? And what impact on the Scots regarding Indy2? ?

Seems Nicola Sturgeon is doubling down now on her abuse of power.

Having told Salmond to produce evidence that she misled the Scottish Parliament, he does so. She then leans on the Scottish Crown Office and tells them to redact the very parts of Salmond's evidence that prove she misled the Scottish Parliament. Having scrubbed the evidence, she then calls Salmond a "wild conspiracy theorist".

To say that Scotland is now a banana republic is to insult a banana republic.

Scottish voters may yet punish Nicola Sturgeon for her handling of the Salmond affair. Anything but a resounding victory in May's elections could cost the First Minister the support of independence activists.

??

I would have almost thought evidence from George Galloway should be ruled inadmissible in account of it being evidence from George Galloway.

Nicola Sturgeon has been warned a "guided missile" is heading towards Holyrood ahead of Alex Salmond's appearance at the inquiry, by former MP George Galloway.

That's true Petera. I've met more impressive Scotswomen that NS. Cameron needed to get out more!

I agree Casdon, people should be talking about it.

What I object to is some people trying to use it as if it somehow reflected on the viability of Scotland as a sovereign nation when they would never even consider the appalling behaviour of the current Westminster government as ‘proof’ that the UK was not viable as a sovereign nation. It’s identity politics at its worst.

There’s grown-up discussion to be had about independence and this is not it.

And incidentally, I’ll repeat the answer someone gave to David Cameron when he described Nicola Sturgeon as the most dangerous woman in Britain: if you think she’s the most dangerous woman in Britain then you haven’t met many Scottish women.

Much more and specify detail though. It was quite a chilling read. It made me wonder what Scotland has come to. If only Donald Dewar was still around.

Remember that Salmond has been cleared of all of the accusations of sexual misconduct, that's not what this is all about. Worth remembering too that the offences which he has been proved innocent of came to light during the height of the "MeToo" activity, so if a court case had not been forthcoming there could well have been accusations of preferential treatment of a politician.

I've read Murray's sworn statement. Mainly it goes along the lines of Alex said this happened, then Alex said that happened, then Alex said all these people ganged up on him. Might be true. Might not.

Wouldn’t it be very strange if people weren’t interested? To be fair Petera we aren’t all Tory supporting zealots on this thread by any means, and we aren’t all trying to score political points either. I believe it’s quite reasonable to want to understand what’s happening in other parts of the UK, I’m equally interested in Northern Ireland - I’m in Wales myself, and a lot of the Scottish issues have parallels here - there are plenty of specks in the eyes in Wales too - and there have been loads of discussions on the forum about the state of English and UK wide politics as well.

What I don’t get is how defensive some people are being about this, because whilst it’s tough for the electorate to understand what’s happening at the moment, if there has been no foul play then it should enhance SNP chances in the next election, and if there has then surely the politicians are getting what they deserve?

Craig Murray's sworn statement is worth a read GagaJo. I don't have a link to it but it was very enlightening.

Standing back from the whole argument, Salmons would hardly be the first male leader who has acted inappropriately with women.

What motivation would the women who accused him have, given that he had already stepped down as leader?

Salmond's statement is already in the public domain. Why can't he just present it and gave it taken into account? Parliament has said it should, Lady Dorrian said its OK. So what's the problem? Maybe Salmond should risk the Crown Office threats and just appear and say his piece?
There really is something rotten in the state of Scotland.

Petera: This is more a case of look at the beam in your own eye before helping me with the speck in mine. Well said!

Urmstongran

^look no firther than your own dear leader and his government ,it been seen in large and varied forms in all levels including the man himself^

Ooh, look - a squirrel...

That's just a misunderstanding of how whataboutery works.

If people were bring up completely different issues then yes ’look a squirrel’. But in this case, it’s pointing out a level of hypocrisy in the people talking about the issue. The Westminster government has a long line of court judgements against it, for Johnson’s illegal proroguing (which also involved lying to the Queen) to Hancock’s current handling of PP contracts.

There is problem at the moment in Scotland, which is being handled and talked about openly. A court case has taken place and nothing was hidden from the court – and we are now getting worked up about a committee meeting. The is a problem at the moment in Westminster and none of the government supporters will address it.

When I eventually see the same people who bring up these Holyrood issues also be open about the problems of the parliament in Westminster – and remember this is the parliament they think should control Scotland so it’s hardly irrelevant – then I will give them more respect.

This is more a case of look at the beam in your own eye before helping me with the speck in mine.

Peter.

Have you seen the grey bits?

And while we are at it, who is doing Sturgeon's hair? I don't believe she is doing it herself.

That's not evidence. Its an opinion given by a retired lasw professor who writes for the Spectator.

Petera yes. See this.

Aveline

Alegrias it seems like the Crown Office has been leaned on. The Lord Advocate has become a political appointment which is not right. Its supposed to be an independent position. It's this intertwining of Scottish govt, Crown office, civil servants and SNP hierarchy that's so worrying and makes the centre seem so rotten. What's to hide and why hide it?

Evidence of the CO being leaned on?

The rise and fall of Queen Nicola ?

Aveline

*paddyann*, obviously, you've not read the statement and the redacted sections. There is no reason for the redactions as was proven in court. The meetings took place on the dates stated. There are sworn witnesses. Nicola has lied and is desperately trying to cover up. The blindly faithful will swallow this but the more thoughtful will be very concerned and rightly so.

If it’s proved that she lied to the Scottish Parliament will she be able to keep her position?
Alex Salmond is not going down without a fight, as he thinks that NS threw him to the wolves in the first place.
Am sure NS will manage to get out of it somehow though.

Alegrias it seems like the Crown Office has been leaned on. The Lord Advocate has become a political appointment which is not right. Its supposed to be an independent position. It's this intertwining of Scottish govt, Crown office, civil servants and SNP hierarchy that's so worrying and makes the centre seem so rotten. What's to hide and why hide it?

What a Mexican soap opera Scottish politics has become. Shameful.

My guess is Salmond has calculated this would happen and is prepping for a full and unredacted release of evidence via a press conference.

Disclaimer: I did.
?
Sorry everyone!
But he was the only runner promising to Get Brexit Done.