MSPs on the Holyrood inquiry looking into the Scottish Government’s botched handling of complaints made against Alex Salmond will reject allegations that texts from Peter Murrell prove a conspiracy, it has been reported.
Earlier this week the committee were handed WhatsApp messages from the Crown Office, which Salmond said proves there was a high-level plot against him among Nicola Sturgeon’s allies.
In his written evidence, the former First Minister did not use the word “conspiracy” but said he was “very clear” that there is evidence supporting a “a deliberate, prolonged, malicious and concerted effort amongst a range of individuals within the Scottish Government and the SNP to damage my reputation, even to the extent of having me imprisoned”.
READ MORE: Crown Office gives messages to MSPs which Alex Salmond says shows plot against him
He said that included SNP chief executive Murrell, among others.
Last year extracts of messages sent by Murrell were leaked to SNP MP Kenny MacAskill – one text said it was a “good time to be pressurising the police”, while another said “the more fronts [Salmond] is having to firefight on the better for all complainers”.
The committee is in the final stages of its inquiry into the Government’s investigation into complaints made against Salmond, which a judicial review found was unlawful, unfair and “tainted by apparent bias”. Salmond was cleared of all charges at the High Court last year.
According to a report in The Guardian, the committee’s final report will be published on March 22 or 23 and will reject Salmond’s claims that the messages prove interference in the police investigation.
Committee members reportedly believe that the texts are more innocuous that initially suggested, and show SNP officials and some complainers encouraging people to come forward – but not to the extent of a conspiracy.
Murrell has previously rejected claims that the messages demonstrate a conspiracy, but while giving evidence to the committee accepted the language used was “out of character”.
READ MORE: FMQs: Sturgeon says she'll be haunted for 'rest of her life' by complaint failures
According to reports the MSPs think the Scottish Parliament should publish all of the messages, as they are concerned the leaking of certain elements may have mischaracterised their content.
Murrell and others involved in the discussion have been approached for their permission to go ahead with this.
The committee has not seen emails involving SNP officials who became complainers in Salmond’s criminal trial – the former First Minister believes these show collusion. However, they are not being sought by the inquiry because they relate to the trial.
During his evidence session Salmond spoke of seeing those messages – describing reading them as “one of the most extraordinary days of his life”.
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