Hansard

1. Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con) Con

Before I start, I want to make it clear that I fully understand the law relating to live criminal proceedings. John Swinney should also understand the law, s...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP

Let me make it clear that I understand the importance of protecting live criminal proceedings. That is exactly why the Lord Advocate sent me a minute to warn...

Russell Findlay Con

The reason why John Swinney passed sensitive information from the Lord Advocate to his SNP spin doctor is obvious. It was because he knew that it gave him an...

The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) NPA

Let us hear one another.

Russell Findlay Con

If it really was about preventing any risk to the case, who else did John Swinney share that information with?

The First Minister SNP

The Government has answered a freedom of information request on time to address exactly the point that Mr Findlay has put to me. I want to repeat the reason ...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Let us hear one another.

The First Minister SNP

Sorry—it was Mr Thomas Ross. My apologies.Mr Thomas Ross KC said:“I thought it was an absolute disgrace. I mean, the current Lord Advocate has practised at t...

Russell Findlay Con

:Imagine boasting about getting an FOI answered on time—absolutely desperate.The First Minister did not answer the question, but it sounds like he did not sh...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Let us hear one another.

Russell Findlay Con

It once again highlights the inherent conflict of interest with Scotland’s top prosecutor also being a member of the Scottish Government. John Swinney stood ...

The First Minister SNP

Before I address that point, I want to say something very directly to Mr Findlay, the Parliament and the public in Scotland. Dorothy Bain is an outstanding p...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Thank you.

The First Minister SNP

I am disgusted by the way that Russell Findlay spoke about the Lord Advocate yesterday. He should be ashamed of himself, and he should withdraw every word of...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Thank you. Let us continue.

The First Minister SNP

The Government was elected on a policy commitment to explore, examine and consult on issues related to the dual functions of the Lord Advocate. Those issues ...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Let us hear the First Minister. Thank you.

The First Minister SNP

I point out that the regulation of the arrangements for the Lord Advocate holding the dual functions of being the chief legal adviser to the Government and t...

Russell Findlay Con

:The Oscar for best phony anger goes to John Swinney. What a desperate deflection—unbelievable. Interruption.

The Presiding Officer NPA

Let us hear our proceedings.

Russell Findlay Con

After five years of inaction, it maybe will take this rotten episode to finally force the SNP to end the Lord Advocate’s dual role.This scandal is typical of...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Let us hear one another, colleagues.

Russell Findlay Con

He was Nicola Sturgeon’s right-hand man and he got a heads-up about the criminal case involving her husband. The Lord Advocate’s actions were wrong and her e...

The First Minister SNP

Parliament decided on that point last night in a democratic vote by its elected members.Yesterday, Mr Findlay put on the record all his points to the Lord Ad...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Thank you. You will stop shouting. Continue, First Minister. Let us hear one another.

The First Minister SNP

The shouting and bawling from the Conservatives demonstrates my point that they do not deserve to be here, and they will not be here, because they are on the...