SNP Deputy First Minister John Swinney is to face a vote of no confidence in Holyrood today, as growing outrage over ‘corruption’ relating to the Alex Salmond inquiry intensifies.
Scottish Tories are urging MSPs to condemn the ‘stifling’ of a Holyrood probe into the Alex Salmond case, and politicians will hold a debate and vote on John Swinney later today. Their main complaint is the refusal to release full legal advice Ms Sturgeon received about the government’s handling of complaints against Mr Salmond – details which many believe will damage the First Minister even further.
Sturgeon has denied breaking the ministerial code by defying lawyers and continuing to fight a judicial review brought by her predecessor.
Mr Swinney released some of the legal advice, but has claimed that no notes were taken of two crucial meetings between Ms Sturgeon and legal counsel – a claim that is under dispute.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross today urged MSPs from across parties to join forces – but admitted that he expects Mr Swinney to survive the vote of no confidence.
‘At the moment it looks like the parties have decided – those who support independence – to gang up with each other to vote this down,’ he said.
‘That’s the Scottish Greens now just being an extension of the SNP, despite Scottish Greens and all opposition parties joining with the Scottish Conservatives to twice vote for this legal advice to be released.
‘Across parties, Parliament has been stifled in its attempts to get to the bottom of this issue – a crucial issue – but it looks like the Greens are going to support the SNP… John Swinney will survive.’
