Mandarin rejects fresh calls for action against SNP adviser in fake letter row

Published on Friday 27 January 2012 00:00

Scotland’s top civil servant has rejected opposition calls for fresh action in the fake letter row surrounding one of Alex Salmond’s closest advisers.

Sir Peter Housden has already cleared special adviser Kevin Pringle over claims that he breached civil service rules during a clash with a leading referendum expert, Matt Qvortrup, last year.

Labour’s Hugh Henry demanded action after two new e-mails emerged this week, previously withheld by the civil service, setting out the full extent of Mr Pringle’s role.

But Mr Housden wrote: “I am satisfied that the events of 27 October did not result in parliament or the public being misled and arose from what Professor Qvortrup has since described as ‘an honest mistake’.”

Mr Pringle drafted a letter in the name of Prof Qvortrup to the Times newspaper, which was read out in parliament by Mr Salmond last October. This recanted the academic’s criticism of SNP plans for a second referendum question on more powers for Holyrood which had appeared in that day’s paper.

But the academic refused to endorse the letter, and Mr Salmond was forced to apologise to MSPs in Holyrood. The full extent of the adviser’s involvement emerged this week, when two previously unseen e-mails came to light.

They show Mr Pringle not only drafted the letter for Prof Qvortrup to send to the paper, but also urged the academic to pretend he had acted without intervention from the government adviser – and not to speak out to the press.

Only four of the six pieces of correspondence between the adviser and the academic were initially released. The remaining two were logged in the Scottish Parliament’s information centre four days before Christmas, but came to light this week after a freedom of information appeal.

Mr Henry said the mandarin had not explained why the two e-mails were “concealed”.

“I am deeply unsatisfied with his conduct,” the MSP said.

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5

well informed

Friday, January 27, 2012 at 02:25 PM

Another case where there is no case to answer in spite of all the public expense it cost to try and manufacture one for party political reasons! Liebour can find no better way to spend your tax than on themselves!

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4

jamesdow

Friday, January 27, 2012 at 01:49 PM

Yawn. Boring. Any day now I expect The Daily Colonial Jocksman to put the story about 'The Gathering' back into the microwave and serve it up as news.

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3

Gordon Hay

Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11:57 AM

It wasn't the two emails that came to light after the FoI request, it was the fact that they were already available. Another molehill being made into a mountain.

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2

Lachie Mhor

Friday, January 27, 2012 at 09:54 AM

1. Why should the electorate ignore this. It is yet another example of the Big Lie so much beloved by Benito and his clan. It shows the lies and spin that Benito likes to produce. To mislead the electorate by deliberately lying bears investigation. What other lies and deceit will be uncovered. Does Benito feature inthis ploy?Lets have the truth!

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1

Bill Brown

Friday, January 27, 2012 at 07:28 AM

Dear dear, the meat has been well and truly chewed off of this particular bone. Please let it go, it's becoming really boring.

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