Nicola Sturgeon refers herself for standards panel investigation

Nicola Sturgeon has referred herself to a standards panel to investigate whether she breached the Ministerial Code over her meetings with Alex Salmond.

The First Minister met with former first minister Salmond on three occasions after allegations of sexual harassment were made by two Scottish Government employees, and spoke with him on the phone a further two times.

She admitted during FMQs that her chief of staff Liz Lloyd was present at her first meeting with Salmond, sparking criticism and suspicion over her involvement in the process.

Sturgeon said it was in the interest of the complainants that she should be investigated under the ministerial code, but added that she had "acted appropriately and in good faith."

Sturgeon said: "It is in the interests of the women who have complained that the ongoing police investigations are allowed to continue without any risk of prejudice. That must be the priority for everyone.

"I have acted appropriately and in good faith throughout, and in compliance with the ministerial code at all times. However, I have reflected carefully and understand that it is also important for parliament and the wider public to be assured of that.

"The independent advisers will now be consulted on their precise remit, and advice will also be sought on how to ensure that there is no risk of prejudice to the ongoing police investigation. The remit will be published in due course.”

Labour leader Richard Leonard highlighted a potential breach under Section 4.23 of the Ministerial Code during FMQs, and then wrote to the FM and to the panel of independent advisers.

Following the FM’s decision he then called for a public parliamentary inquiry "in order for the public to have confidence" in Sturgeon and her government.

He said: "Nicola Sturgeon has done the right thing in accepting Scottish Labour's call for her to refer herself under the ministerial code.

"It is also now essential that the Scottish Parliament is given the power to fully review the outcome of this investigation into whether Nicola Sturgeon has broken the ministerial code."

He added: "Throughout this process it is essential to remember that at the centre of all of this are two courageous women who put their faith in a system that has badly let them down, and we must never lose sight of that, by safeguarding the duty of care to them and their access to justice.

"We must restore trust and confidence in the system."

Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw said: "There is no reason why such an inquiry need impact on the separate police investigation into Mr Salmond. And any attempt by the SNP to use that separate inquiry to evade legitimate questions would be quite wrong.

"Nicola Sturgeon's handling of this matter over the last week has been absolutely abysmal.

"It is time for the first minister to stop dodging and accept that finding excuses to avoid the many wider and important questions will not wash. It's time to front up."