Alex Salmond offers alternative date for harassment inquiry appearance

Alex Salmond has offered to appear before the committee investigating the botched handling of complaints made against him in the week beginning 8 February.

The committee will make a decision on whether, when and how to take evidence from him today.

It had previously told him that it would not be able to hear from him after the week beginning 2 February, due to time constraints.

The committee hopes to finish all evidence gathering in the second week of February so it can publish its report and give the Scottish Government sufficient time to respond before the dissolution of parliament at the end of March.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to give evidence on 9 February.

The letter from Salmond’s lawyers states: “Our client is available to give evidence to the committee on any day, at any time in the week beginning 8 February, including on the 8^th itself if you wish to hear his evidence before that of the First Minister.

“If necessary he is prepared to consider giving evidence in an alternative format although he (and the committee) would prefer an in-person session.”

The committee is investigating what went wrong with a Scottish Government probe into harassment complaints made against Salmond, which led to a judicial review ruling the government had acted unlawfully.

The Scottish Government had to pay over £500,000 to Salmond in legal costs as a result.

MSPs will meet in private this afternoon to consider a response.