Probe into former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael '˜leak' dropped

THE Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has dropped an investigation into the involvement of former Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael in a leak aimed at damaging SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.

Alistair Carmichael

The leaked memo between a Scottish Office official and the French consul general suggested Scottish First Minister Ms Sturgeon had told the French ambassador she would prefer David Cameron’s Conservatives to win the then upcoming 2015 UK general election.

The commissioner said: “I have established that the conduct which led to my inquiry falls outside my remit. I do not, therefore, make any criticism, or indeed any other comment, on Mr Carmichael’s conduct in this affair.”

Ms Sturgeon, who, along with the ambassador, denied the allegation in the memo, called for Mr Carmichael to resign as an MP after he admitted being behind the leak.

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