Alex Salmond inquiry: Former first minister offers to meet committee on February 8

Alex Salmond has offered to meet the Holyrood inquiry investigating the government handling of sexual harassment complaints against him while he was first minister, in the second week of February.

Alex Salmond will attend the committee.

Despite a request to attend next week, his lawyers have informed MSPs that he would be able to “give evidence to the committee on any day, at any time in the week beginning 8th February, including on the 8th itself”.

He has also said he would prefer to be in Parliament to give evidence in person.

In a letter to the committee, David McKie, of Levy & McRae, said Mr Salmond was also finalising his third submission to the inquiry on his successful judicial review against the government, which saw him win more than £500,000, after judges ruled the government’s actions had been "tainted with bias”.

It was the result of the judicial review that prompted the parliamentary inquiry.

Mr McKie wrote: “Our client is available to give evidence to the committee on any day, at any time in the week beginning 8th February, including on the 8th itself if you wish to hear his evidence before that of the First Minister. If necessary he is prepared to consider giving evidence in an alternative format although he (and the committee) would prefer an in-person session.”

The committee is due to meet on Wednesday to discuss Mr Salmond's proffered date. It had previously stressed it wanted to hear his evidence next week as its timetable for collating its report is short.

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