Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon risks being overwhelmed by a political scandal that could not only end her career but also wipe out her dream of an independent Scotland.
Unknown on the elections
Elections for the renewal of the Holyrood Parliament will be held in a few weeks and the expectation was of a triumph for the Scottish National Party (SNP) which, according to the premier, would have forced the London government to grant another referendum on independence. The ongoing political feud, however, is causing the SNP to drop in the polls and could force Sturgeon to resign.
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Salmond, a bulky predecessor
The dispute concerns Alex Salmond, former leader of the SNP and charismatic giant of Scottish politics, accused of sexual harassment, and Sturgeon, his former daughter chosen to succeed him at the head of the party. The premier is accused of giving misleading information to Parliament about when and how much she knew of the storm that was about to hit Salmond’s head. If the allegations were proven, Sturgeon would be guilty of breaking the ministerial code of conduct and would have to resign.
The “leak” on the commission’s judgment
On Friday the news filtered that the parliamentary committee in charge of unraveling the tangled skein has spoken out against the premier: 5 out of 4 deputies would be convinced that the version of events given by Sturgeon to Parliament is not entirely true. The final report of the commission will be published on Tuesday 23 and the advances have not been confirmed.
Sturgeon on the counterattack
The premier, combative as always, immediately accused her political enemies of having orchestrated the leak to damage her. The Commission has nine members: 4 from the SNP, two Conservatives, a Labor, a Liberal Democrat and an Independent. “It is clear that the members of the Commission who are part of the opposition have taken a decision before hearing a single word of my deposition,” he said yesterday. We await the final report but above all the judgment of James Hamilton if I have violated the ministerial code or not ».