Nicola Sturgeon has been told by Alex Salmond to focus on winning independence as he warned her government against re-opening the harassment investigation.
Mr Salmond refused to extend his call for the Permanent Secretary’s resignation to his former mentee despite the Scottish Government accepting “institutional responsibility” for its botched handling of the complaints against him.
Speaking outside the Court of Session, the former First Minister called on Leslie Evans to consider her position as the “ultimate judge” in the civil service complaints procedure.
“My view of what Nicola Sturgeon should do now is that she should concentrate on achieving independence for Scotland, particularly in the current political circumstances,” he added.
Mr Salmond won his judicial review on Tuesday into the Scottish Government’s handling of the probe into two complaints of sexual misconduct, after the administration he used to lead conceded defeat.
Ms Sturgeon’s government accepted it was wrong to appoint a person who had prior involvement with the alleged victims and their complaints as investigating officer, which breached their own rules.
Responding to the permanent secretary considering re-opening the investigation, Mr Salmond said she should reflect carefully on spending more public money when the cost is already in the hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Suggesting any new investigation would be tarred by previous failures, he added: “The Scottish Government fell at the first fence. I think they will have fallen at all the other fences as well.”
Annie Wells, for the Scottish Conservatives, said the procedures were put into place at Ms Sturgeon’s behest.
“The permanent secretary has apologised for her role in this fiasco,” the Glasgow MSP said.
“But it is Nicola Sturgeon who must take responsibility.”
The first minister said on Monday that she hopes to provide an update on her Indyref2 plans “very soon”.
