Hamilton report a 'disaster' for Nicola Sturgeon's critics, Irish Times analysis says

Yesterday James Hamilton’s (below) independent report into Nicola Sturgeon’s conduct throughout the Government’s investigation into complaints against Alex Salmond was released, with the Irish barrister finding no breach of the ministerial code.

Sturgeon had referred herself to the inquiry when Salmond won his legal action against the Government over its investigation.

There were questions over when she learned of complaints against her predecessor. She told the Scottish Parliament she was informed of them on April 2 but did not tell the civil service until June.

Hamilton, Ireland’s former director of public prosecutions, concluded that this did not amount to a breach of the code.

He also considered Salmond’s claim that the FM breached the code by not conceding the Government's case against him at an earlier date. He said this was not a breach either.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon did not breach ministerial code, James Hamilton finds

The First Minister welcomed the report’s findings – while the Scottish Tories decided they would go ahead with today's planned no-confidence vote anyway.

The Irish Times has offered its view into the barrister’s report. In an analysis piece, journalist Denis Staunton argues the findings are a “tremendous boost for Sturgeon and a disaster for her critics”.

READ MORE: Polls suggest the Yes movement's most difficult times are now behind it

“Unionists in Edinburgh and London dared to hope in recent weeks that the Salmond affair would end Sturgeon’s career, or at least damage the SNP’s greatest electoral asset and the most persuasive advocate of Scottish independence,” Staunton explains.

“Instead, the Hamilton report has allowed Sturgeon to emerge stronger from the Salmond controversy, leaving her political adversaries looking like partisan critics of a female politician who sided with women complaining about sexual harassment.”

Hamilton’s findings may have now “destroyed” Unionist hopes of depriving the SNP of a majority and undermining the mandate for indyref2, the journalist says.

In an exclusive piece for The National last night, pollster Mark McGeoghegan wrote that following Hamilton’s findings “there appears to be little obstacle now to the SNP and Yes movement getting on with the work of securing a pro-independence majority”.

While polls showed dips in support for the SNP and independence at the beginning of the month, he added there is “plenty of evidence” that the most difficult period is behind the Yes movement.