The Liberal Democrats have denied being the source of the leaked memo alleging Nicola Sturgeon wanted David Cameron to be prime minister.
Nick Clegg’s party moved to quash suggestions sparked by an interview with the Prime Minister that LibDem Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael might have been the source. Cameron said he knew the memo, which came from the Scotland Office, was not leaked by Carmichael’s Tory deputy David Mundell.
He said: “I have heard very clearly David Mundell saying it wasn’t him, so one does wonder.”
But the LibDems accused Cameron of “mudslinging” and stressed the Tories and the SNP were locked in a “Faustian pact” to get the Prime Minister re-elected and boost calls for Scottish independence.
A party spokesman said: “David Cameron’s attempt at mudslinging does a terrible job at masking what’s at the heart of this matter. The Scottish people have a right to know that the Conservatives and SNP are involved in an invisible Faustian pact.
“He wants Sturgeon to triumph in Scotland to pave his way back to No 10, while the SNP secretly yearn for a Tory win as they misguidedly believe it will increase their chances of another Scottish referendum.
“The leak was not from a Liberal Democrat and that is the end of the matter.”
Carmichael has already confirmed that the memo, containing an account of a private meeting between the First Minister and the French ambassador, was written in the Scotland Office.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood has ordered an inquiry into the leak.
Meanwhile, former LibDem leader Sir Menzies Campbell was in Bearsden to meet researchers at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research to discuss his party’s plans to protect investment in science and research.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here