The SNP is remembering its populist roots
He has already made it clear he will not resurrect Nicola Sturgeon's disastrous Gender Recognition Bill. This is the legislation, passed overwhelmingly by the Scottish Parliament in December 2022, which would have allowed 16-year-olds to change their legal sex by making a simple declaration.
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Daily Record
35 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Nicola Sturgeon was involved in 'political conspiracy' against Alex Salmond, claims ex-SNP minister
Nicola Sturgeon was involved in 'political conspiracy' against Alex Salmond, claims ex-SNP minister Kenny MacAskill renewed his calls for a public inquiry into the events surrounding an investigation into the late Alex Salmond. Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon after the SNP election win in 2011 Nicola Sturgeon was involved in a "political conspiracy" against Alex Salmond, a former SNP justice secretary has claimed. Kenny MacAskill warned today there must be "no cover up in Holyrood or in St Andrew's House" as he renewed his calls for a public inquiry to examine the circumstances of an investigation into the former first minister, who died in October last year aged 69. The Alba leader, who quit the SNP in 2021 to join Salmond's fledgling party, has regularly demanded answers over a botched Scottish Government probe into claims of harassment made against Salmond in 2018. Complaints were made by two female civil servants but an internal Government investigation was later ruled to be unlawful. Salmond was awarded over half a million pounds in costs after a judge ruled in 2019 the investigation had been "tainted with apparent bias". The former SNP leader was separately charged that same year with sexual assault against nine women. He was cleared of all charges in court in 2020. "I think there has to be an inquiry because what happened to Alex Salmond was fundamentally wrong," MacAskill said in an interview with Go Radio. Article continues below SNP MSPs call for Israeli Defense Forces to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation READ MORE: "I think what we are seeing is obfuscation, to put it mildly, by the Scottish Government. There can be no cover up in Holyrood or in St Andrew's House. We require to know who did what, what was done, if that impacts upon Alex so be it, but I don't believe it does. I believe it will vindicate him because a manifest injustice was done towards him." Pressed on on whether Sturgeon was at the heart of a "political conspiracy" MacAskill continued: "I believe so. There was a political conspiracy to do down Alex Salmond. "I have no doubt that was a factor in his early death. He wasn't even 70 but what he had to endure. But he was vindicated in the civil courts with the Scottish Government chastised in the highest court in our land and in the criminal court a jury of his peers exculpated him." Sturgeon, who was first minister at the time of the investigation, has previously denied any suggestion of a conspiracy. Salmond himself alleged that some people had wanted to "remove me as a political threat". She told MSPs in 2019: "It seems to me that I am being simultaneously accused of being involved in a conspiracy against Alex Salmond, and also of colluding with Alex Salmond. "Nothing could be further from the truth in both of those - neither of those things are true. Since I found out about the investigation I have tried to do the right thing in a situation which, no matter what happened, was never going to be easy for me." Alex Salmond leaves the High Court in 2019 (Image: Getty Images ) In a 2021 interview with STV, Sturgeon was again asked about a conspiracy against Salmond. She said: "He has made claims, or he appears to be making claims or suggestions there was some kind of conspiracy against him or concerted campaign against him, there is not a shred of evidence about that, so this is the opportunity for him to replace insinuation and assertion with evidence. "I don't believe he can because I know what he is saying is not true but the burden of proof is on him. If he can't provide that evidence he should stop making these claims about people because they're not fair and deeply distressing." The former first minister was later cleared of breaching the ministerial code over her involvement in the Salmond saga. An independent inquiry in 2021 by senior Irish lawyer James Hamilton examined whether the first minister misled the Scottish Parliament over what she knew and when. A separate inquiry by MSPs into the Scottish Government's handling of harassment complaints against Salmond found there were 'fundamental errors' in its harassment procedure. Article continues below The Record asked the SNP for comment.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Devolved relations reset with Labour has 'failed', says SNP official
The Scotsman reports that a senior Scottish Government source has criticised the UK Labour Government's approach to intergovernmental relations since the 2024 general election. Following the election last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke of the need to 'reset' the relationship with the Scottish Government in his first meeting with John Swinney. But now, UK ministers have been accused of repeatedly cancelling meetings, not providing documents or sharing information, and 'presenting things as a fait accompli'. READ MORE: New poll predicts Reform Westminster win with no Scottish MPs The UK Government also agreed a new fisheries deal with the EU without consulting Scottish ministers, despite the area being a devolved matter. SNP ministers are now understood to be seeking assurances this is a 'one-off' of Westminster trying to legislate in devolved areas. The newspaper reports that Scottish officials were only told about a meeting with data protection and telecoms minister Chris Bryant (below) 'late on Friday'. This meant there was not enough time to prepare for the meeting on creative industries strategy, officials said, with documents published online half an hour before the meeting took place. 'We were told there would be a reset and we have worked hard to make that a reality, but we have now run out of road because there has been no reset,' the source told The Scotsman. 'It is comparable to the bad, old habits of the last UK Conservative government, which we had an appalling relationship with. (Image: House of Commons) 'It is simply not working.' They claimed the Scottish Government is the 'grown-ups in the room' when dealing with the UK Government. A spokesperson for the UK Government said in response: 'Whoever this senior Scottish Government source is, they appear to be contradicting the comments of John Swinney himself, who hailed relations as 'incomparably better' compared to the Tory government. 'The UK government has indeed legislated in devolved areas with the Scottish Government's express consent - on better rights in the private rented sector, ensuring ScotRail is kept in public hands, keeping young people safe online, as well as tougher rules on knife sales.' They added that both governments are working together on issues including Grangemouth, Alexander Dennis and the 'clean energy mission'. 'This government has reset the relationship between the UK government and the Scottish Government,' the spokesperson added. 'That doesn't mean we will agree on everything, but where we do agree we should work together. READ MORE: First Minister John Swinney on 10 things that changed his life 'The vast majority of Scots just want to see their two governments work together to get things done, and will take a dim view of people complaining they don't have enough time to prepare for a meeting rather than get on with it.' In May, the First Minister said the relationship between the UK and Scottish Governments was 'deteriorating', in the wake of Starmer announcing the deal with the EU. "It does appear that the Scottish fishing industry has once again been negotiated away by the UK Government, demonstrating that Scotland is an afterthought for the UK Government,' Swinney said at the time.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
New poll predicts Reform Westminster win with no Scottish MPs
More in Common's latest MRP projects Nigel Farage's party could pick up as many as 290 seats - in England and Wales. This would be more than twice as many as any other party. In Scotland, the survey, based on polling over more than 10,000 people, finds that the SNP is building back its strength to around 2019 levels, and could win 42 out of the 57 available seats. The SNP are projected to gain 31 seats from Scottish Labour, two from the Scottish Tories and one from the LibDems. READ MORE: First Minister John Swinney on 10 things that changed his life It claims Labour would gain Dundee Central, known as the Yes City, from the SNP's Chris Law, while the party would retain the remaining eight seats it currently holds. But, while Farage's right-wing party is seeing a boost in the polls south of the border, the latest survey does not show them making a substantial breakthrough in Scotland. Last month, an MRP based on YouGov polling data suggested Reform could win three seats north of the border. And now, More in Common suggests they could increase their numbers by 285 seats at a general election, taking them to 290 in total. Labour would be left in opposition with 126, followed by the Conservatives on 81 and LibDems on 73. You can compare the 2024 constituency winners with More in Common's predictions with our interactive map below. SNP MP Stephen Gethins told The National: 'Whilst Labour's failure is giving rise to Nigel Farage, people in Scotland can see the SNP is the only party standing up for Scotland – it is clear that Westminster offers no solutions to the challenges people are facing just now. "This is the price of Labour's continuity on Brexit, Tory spending plans and targeting the most vulnerable in our society. 'The SNP will continue taking action to improve the lives of people in Scotland by improving our public services and growing our economy –and, in doing so, demonstrating how the full powers of independence will allow us to build a better future for everyone.' The poll shows that Labour would lose the majority of its seats to Reform – 223 of them. This would include many historically red constituencies in the North of England and Wales. READ MORE: 4 marchers hit with air pellets during Glasgow Order Orange Walk Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Health Secretary Wes Streeting would all lose their seats under the projection. Luke Tryl, More in Common's UK director, said: "It is an unhappy birthday for the Prime Minister, his personal approval has hit an all time low, while Britons blame him rather than his Chancellor for the welfare mess and think he has lost control of his party. 'Meanwhile our new MRP shows Reform UK as the big winners from the Government's failures. 'Although we are a long way from an election and much will change between, Nigel Farage's Party are demonstrating that they are now close to the level where they could command an outright majority. Britain's political landscape has transformed entirely from just a year ago."
