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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 19 February 2026 [Draft]

19 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
First Minister’s Question Time
Lord Advocate (Information Sharing)
Swinney, John SNP Perthshire North Watch on SPTV

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 Advocate. I think that 14 members were able to ask questions of the Lord Advocate, in an extended urgent question in Parliament. This morning on the radio, Thomas Ross KC said:

“I hope that now everything’s calmed the Scottish Conservatives are big enough to apologise for making that slur”—

the slur against the Lord Advocate—

“because being trusted is the most important thing for every lawyer in the country, and for somebody who is trusted”—

the Lord Advocate—

“to be accused in some way of dishonesty, I thought, was shameful.”

I agree with Mr Ross. I was disgusted by the behaviour of Russell Findlay and a number of other contributors in Parliament yesterday. The most appalling level of behaviour was deployed by members of Parliament. We have a code of conduct and some standards to uphold in this Parliament—[Interruption.]

In the same item of business

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...