by Niall Christie

Scotland editor

SCOTTISH LABOUR has provided an ultimatum to Deputy First Minister John Swinney ahead of a vote of no confidence in the SNP MSP scheduled for tomorrow. 

The vote was originally tabled to push for the release of legal advice given to the Scottish government before it decided to concede the judicial review brought by Alex Salmond after its botched handling of complaints.

MSPs have twice voted to compel the government to release the documents, with Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie claiming there has been obstruction from the start. 

Today, Mr Swinney said records of meetings between Nicola Sturgeon, Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans and the government’s legal counsel about the investigation cannot be found.

The Deputy First Minister said the Scottish government also did not record minutes of meetings with its external counsel about former first minister Mr Salmond’s ultimately successful legal challenge.

Government lawyers had already warned ministers of difficulties with the case prior to the meetings, before the Scottish government finally conceded the case in January 2019, with the Court of Session ruling that it had acted “unlawfully” in its handling of the complaints.

Ms Baillie said: “The idea that no notes were taken of several important meetings with counsel, including one with the First Minister and Permanent Secretary, is frankly laughable.

“It would have been nothing short of professional misconduct for those involved not to take notes.

“The Scottish government need to stop the secrecy and pass over all the legal advice — or people will think they have something to hide.

“If the material requested by the committee is not forthcoming, we will have no choice but to back a vote of no confidence in John Swinney.”