Meeting of the Parliament 18 February 2026 [Draft]
I have said that I will give way in a minute.
The Lord Advocate was so concerned that Scotland’s First Minister would speak inappropriately about the case that he had to be briefed about it. We also do not know whether the Lord Advocate has any concerns about the fact that the First Minister, on receiving that email—I note that his chief of staff came into the chamber just a few moments ago—forwarded it on to SNP special advisers 31 minutes later. Did the Lord Advocate, in sharing that information with the First Minister of Scotland, believe that it would be shared with political special advisers? Those are all points that the Parliament deserves to hear about. That is why urgent questions were lodged today, but, even at the end of that process, we have so many unanswered questions for the Lord Advocate.
In conclusion, I repeat that a full statement from the Lord Advocate is needed tomorrow, to provide answers. If the Lord Advocate and SNP members are happy that nothing has gone wrong and that everything is perfectly acceptable and above board, they should come to the Parliament to tell us that. The Lord Advocate should come to the Parliament, give a statement and allow questions to be put, because, even after today’s urgent question, many queries remain. Many queries that were put to the Lord Advocate were not answered and MSPs have been promised that many pieces of information will come later today. Therefore, we should be able to challenge the Lord Advocate on those points tomorrow. Ultimately, if there is nothing to see or hide, why not come back tomorrow, deliver a statement and be questioned?
I move amendment S6M-20826.1, to insert after “That the Parliament agrees—”:
“(za) the following revision to the programme of business for Thursday 19 February 2026—
delete
2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.30 pm Portfolio Questions: Education and Skills
and insert
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Education and Skills
followed by Ministerial Statement: Lord Advocate Private Briefing to the First Minister on the Charges Against Peter Murrell”.
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.