Salmond accused of culture of secrecy over euro dossier
ALEX Salmond faced opposition claims he was adopting a “culture of secrecy” at the heart of government last night after he said he could not publish internal legal advice on an independent Scotland’s status in Europe because of rules governing ministers’ conduct.
A day after ministers said they would not even confirm whether or not such advice had been given because it was “not in the public interest”, the First Minister said the Ministerial Code of Conduct “requires” that such advice stays behind closed doors.
That prompted a furious attack from Labour and the Conservatives, who insisted ministers show exactly what view law officers had taken on whether or not an independent Scotland would be forced to join the euro.
SNP advisers issued their own analysis last night, pointing to EU treaties which state that even if the new country was forced to apply for EU membership – a position it says would not happen – the decision on whether to join the single currency would be “voluntary”.
It argues that Scotland would not be seen as a new part of the EU, and would therefore adopt the rules as apply at present.
However, it has come under pressure on the matter after a report by the House of Commons library earlier this week concluded that it was “by no means clear” whether or not Scotland would retain automatic EU membership after independence, citing the lack of precedent.
In fiery exchanges in Parliament yesterday, Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray claimed that the “evidence was stacking up” that Scotland would, as a new member state, have to join the single currency, and asked Mr Salmond to publish whatever legal advice he held on the matter.
But Mr Salmond referred to a section of the Scottish Ministerial Code, which “requires that the privacy of opinions expressed and advice offered within the government should be maintained”.
The section states that “the fact and content of opinions or advice given by the law officers, either individually or collectively, must not be disclosed publicly without their authority”.
His comment comes after External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop turned down a Freedom of Information request asking whether or not the Scottish Government even held such advice. In a letter to Labour MEP Catherine Stihler, she argued that “to reveal whether or not the information … exists, or is held by the Scottish Government, would be contrary to the public interest”.
However, Mr Salmond was under pressure last night as his own record in opposition was brought up, during which time he demanded that Tony Blair release the legal advice he was given on Iraq. In 2005, Mr Salmond called on Mr Blair to “publish the legal advice he received in full so that the public can see the full evidence against him”.
Opponents said that, with ministers having declined to publish advice on their plans to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol, a “clear trend was emerging”.
A spokesman for the Scottish Labour party said: “It is a culture of secrecy. The idea that it can’t share legal advice is palpable nonsense. The only thing stopping him from doing it may be that the Scottish Government hasn’t taken legal advice, or that it fatally undermines his case.”
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Comments
There are 53 comments to this article
Page 1 of 4
deliverus
Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 12:00 AM44True Scot----Let`s talk about contempt say the GB. football team? Let`s hear your excuses.
deliverus
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:58 PM44True Scot-----I think it is you who think the Scottish people are fools otherwise you might have had a better result in the recent elections.
deliverus
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:54 PMHeinz Doofensmirtz----- "We can see your strings puppet". We can`t see yours but we know they are there!
bannerfield
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 04:38 PM#43 More like the SNP Local Income Tax cover up I'd say
Heinz Doofensmirtz
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 01:42 PM46 maisiedotts ==================================================== We can see your strings puppet.
whitstomatowiu
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 01:35 PMPending Moderation
whitstomatowiu
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12:45 PMComment removed by moderator
maisiedotts
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12:41 PMInstead of constantly attacking Salmond, where are all the positive arguments for the Union? So far all I've seen is intense sabre ratting from the Unionist parties and Westminster, but not one argument which shows the Union is in Scotland's interests - if such an argument exists let's hear it! Or to put it another way are they "feart"?
maisiedotts
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12:32 PMSeems to me the Unionist parties are hell bent on making themselves as unpopular as possible with the Scottish electorate. Just what is it that they and the Westminster government do not understand about the referendum being held in the second half of the current term? Add to that David Cameron considering pre-empting the Scottish referendum to hold a UK wide referendum on the independence issue - talk about adding fuel to the fire! Carry on why don't you! I'm sure the Scottish people will not tolerate another country telling us how to vote, imposing their will on us or trying to tell us how to run our own affairs.
True Scot
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12:31 PMsalmond thinks the Scottish public are fools that would assume everything he says is true. publish the legal advice now, and stop showing contempt for the Scottish people
samcoldstream
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12:25 PMSounds reminiscent of Tony Blair's dodgy dossier on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction.
Heinz Doofensmirtz
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10:34 AM“to reveal whether or not the information … exists, or is held by the Scottish Government, would be contrary to the public interest”. ==================================================== Salmond already said it exists you silly woman.
Kon
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10:12 AM37 Broon Bairn, its not exempt it just requires the permission of the government: "2.23 The fact and content of opinions or advice given by the Law Officers, either individually or collectively, must not be disclosed publicly without their authority." (ministerial code)
Tom R
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 09:37 AM#39 Yes, I have now proved that the censorship on this comic is increasing -you cannot even mention (in any way at all) the name of the author of the piece on Prof. Tomkins without being placed in "pending moderation"-and on past form eventuall deleted
Tom R
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 09:34 AMPending Moderation
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