THE Scottish Tories are pushing ahead with a vote of no confidence in Nicola Sturgeon today – despite an independent report from James Hamilton clearing her of breaching the ministerial code.
The Scottish Greens have also said they won’t support the motion – meaning the Tory effort is doomed to fail, just weeks after their unsuccessful attempt to oust deputy FM John Swinney.
Hamilton (below) was tasked with carrying out an independent inquiry into the Scottish Government’s botched investigation into harassment allegations against Alex Salmond.
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.
Meanwhile, the Holyrood committee also looking into the Government’s investigation this morning concluded that Sturgeon may have misled the Scottish Parliament.
The report says it is “hard to believe” that Sturgeon had “no knowledge of any concerns about inappropriate behaviour on the part of Mr Salmond prior to November 2017”.
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has been extremely critical of the committee – particularly following several leaks to the media in advance of the report’s publication.
READ MORE: Patrick Harvie calls on MSPs on Salmond inquiry to 'consider their position'
He has accused its members of acting politically, and following the Hamilton report’s publication said it had been “clearly concluded that the First Minister did not breach the ministerial code”.
“So we will not support the vote of no confidence being pushed by the Tories,” he said.
Commentators have criticised the Tories for going ahead with the no-confidence vote following the publication of the Hamilton inquiry.
In the Irish Times, journalist Denis Staunton said its findings were a “tremendous boost for Sturgeon and a disaster for her critics”.
READ MORE: Hamilton report a 'disaster' for Nicola Sturgeon's critics, Irish newspaper says
“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,” he wrote.
The National understands that a debate on the vote of no confidence will take place from 3.20pm in the Scottish Parliament, however as always times are subject to change.
An actual vote on the matter is scheduled for right after – but with a packed parliamentary schedule ahead of the Holyrood holiday on Wednesday, this could be pushed back.
The debate and decision time will be available to view on the Scottish Parliament website.
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