Nicola Sturgeon cleared: Women who complained about Alex Salmond have been through hell as MSPs tried to score political points – Angus Robertson

While Nicola Sturgeon will be relieved by the findings of the Hamilton Inquiry, her thoughts will be with women at the heart of the Scottish government sexual harassment cases. They have been all along.
Nicola Sturgeon has been cleared of breaching the ministerial code after an investigation into whether she misled the Scottish Parliament by Irish lawyer James Hamilton (Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)Nicola Sturgeon has been cleared of breaching the ministerial code after an investigation into whether she misled the Scottish Parliament by Irish lawyer James Hamilton (Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
Nicola Sturgeon has been cleared of breaching the ministerial code after an investigation into whether she misled the Scottish Parliament by Irish lawyer James Hamilton (Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

Unlike the tasteless politicking by the Scottish Tories and other opposition parties, the First Minister has acted responsibly in extremely difficult circumstances.

James Hamilton, who conducted the inquiry, is neutral and widely respected.

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His conclusions are clear and they are unambiguous: "I am of the opinion that the First Minister did not breach the provisions of the Ministerial Code in respect of any of these matters.”

This follows a relentless series of leaks, smears and a concerted campaign by bad-actors, yesterday’s men, opportunist opposition MSPs and parts of the right-wing media to discredit, undermine and bring down Nicola Sturgeon. They have failed.

Publicity-seeking Tory, Labour and Lib Dem MSPs have been utterly reckless in weaponising the inquiry to force the resignation the First Minister ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections. They have failed.

And what about the women at the centre of this inquiry? This is what they had to say: “Complainers in this case have been subject to regular attacks and misrepresentations on social media, and have found their experiences repeatedly exploited for political purposes during the inquiry."

These women have been put through hell and back by opposition members of the Holyrood committee and a parliament that was supposed to protect them.

They deserve so much better and so do the people of Scotland.

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