Standards watchdog will investigate Alex Salmond over £9,000 Holyrood lunch

Published on Thursday 4 February 2010 21:41

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond and his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, are to be investigated by the Holyrood authorities for auctioning off lunches to raise thousands of pounds for the SNP's general election campaign.

Scotland's two most senior politicians became embroiled in a "cash for access" row after it emerged that lunches with them at the Scottish Parliament's restaurant were offered to the highest bidders at an SNP fundraising dinner.

Last night a statement from the Holyrood authorities suggested that Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon could have broken rules that forbid parliament facilities from being used for party political purposes.

Lunch for four people with Mr Salmond in the subsidised MSPs' restaurant was auctioned for around 9,000 at the Scots Asians for Independence dinner in Ms Sturgeon's Glasgow Govan constituency.

The event also saw a similar lunch with Ms Sturgeon auctioned for around 2,000.

Both Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon were there and made speeches appealing for funds for Osama Saeed, the SNP's election candidate in Glasgow Central.

Iain Gray, the Scottish Labour leader, said: "These are very serious allegations accusing Alex Salmond of selling the office of First Minister for SNP funds. The implication of 'cash for access' to the First Minister and his deputy has to be answered.

"Was it wrong of the First Minister to auction lunch with himself in Holyrood to raise 9,000 for the SNP? Such grubby behaviour demeans the office."

Mr Gray added: "The First Minister must make clear who bought the lunches and for how much. Alex Salmond has to explain how his 9000 lunch is connected in any way to his duties as First Minister or an MSP."

The successful bidders for the lunch are thought to be two businessmen who were at the event, which was attended by 200 people from Glasgow's Asian community.

Holyrood rules state that "parliamentary resources" must only be used for "parliamentary duties". The rules also state that if there is any doubt about whether an activity is parliamentary or party political then advice must be sought.

Yesterday the First Minister wrote to Holyrood's chief executive Paul Grice seeking clarification over the matter.

In his letter, Mr Salmond took the view that the restaurant was not included in the definition of "parliamentary resources".

"If this is the case there would be no bar against having a lunch in the manner described," Mr Salmond said.

"There is also the question of whether a lunch in itself constitutes a 'significant party political purpose' as opposed to the auction that took place elsewhere."

Mr Salmond suggested that the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB) – the organisation that runs Holyrood – should take a stance on the issue.

"Since the lunch concerned has yet to take place and since it would cause me no inconvenience to hold it elsewhere, this is the ideal circumstance for the SPCB to decide on a position for the future, which of course would then apply to all members," Mr Salmond said.

A Holyrood spokesman said that parliamentary officials would examine the available facts and present a report to the Corporate Body. The spokesman added that the restaurant was bound by the rules.

The spokesman said: "Parliamentary resources are provided by the SPCB to support members with their parliamentary duties. These resources, which include the members' restaurant, must not be used for any other purpose, including any significant party political purposes."

The First Minister's anger over the controversy led to extraordinary scenes in the Holyrood Chamber.

The Presiding Officer, Alex Fergusson, switched off Mr Salmond's microphone when the First Minister became involved in bitter exchanges with Paul Martin, the Labour MSP.

Mr Salmond was silenced as he launched into an impassioned defence of his probity.