SNP's Mike Russell threatens to sue over blogger allegations

Published on Thursday 17 December 2009 15:08

A minister caught up in a row over internet smears today threatened to sue a former employee for "totally false" allegations.

The threat came from Education Secretary Mike Russell, who also asked parliamentary standards watchdogs to investigate the affair.

Mr Russell insisted he knew nothing about the blogging activities of Mark MacLachan, who quit last month as his constituency office manager in Dumfries.

"I stand absolutely by that statement and am entirely confident that I have acted properly throughout this matter in every way," said Mr Russell, who at the time of his aide's departure was the Constitutional Affair Minister.

Mr Russell's statement followed further allegations about the affair published today and a row at First Minister's Questions in Holyrood.

Mr McLachlan quit over what critics described as internet "smears" and comments on the personal lives of politicians from other parties.

Emails were published today said to have been written by Mr MacLachlan to Mr Russell after his resignation.

Mr Russell said this afternoon: "Firstly, I have instructed solicitors to make it clear to my former employee that his allegations are totally false and that any repetition of them by him will result in legal action.

"Second, as Mr MacLachlan's unfounded assertions relate to my work as an MSP, I have invited the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner to investigate the matter.

"I will of course provide him, as indeed I provided the appropriate parliamentary authorities last week, with the totality of the email exchanges published on Mark MacLachlan's blog today and quoted in The Herald."

During First Minister's Questions, Alex Salmond rounded on Iain Gray when the Labour leader questioned him about the resignation of his aide.

Mr Gray asked if Mr Salmond will investigate whether Mr Russell was being truthful when he told the BBC he did not know of the blogging activities of Mr MacLachlan.

Mr Salmond defended Mr Russell and attacked the Labour leader for highlighting this issue above all others during First Minister's Questions.

The First Minister cited the collapse of airline Flyglobespan, climate change talks in Copenhagen and falling unemployment figures.

"These are some of the issues that the people of Scotland would expect the leader of the opposition to raise," he told the Labour leader.

The First Minister also warned Mr Gray not to treat allegations as "revelations", saying: "This is a very dangerous course of action to take."