Former Lord Advocate rules herself out of Sturgeon inquiry

Former Lord Advocate rules herself out of Sturgeon inquiry

Elish Angiolini QC

Former Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini QC has ruled herself out of an investigation into whether First Minister Nicola Sturgeon broke the ministerial code by meeting with Alex Salmond last year.

Ms Angiolini said she could not take the role on as she is already working on another for the Scottish government and doing so would lead to a conflict of interest.

Instead, Ireland’s former Director of Public Prosecutions, James Hamilton, 69, will undertake the investigation.

Mr Hamilton previously cleared the First Minister of Wales over bullying allegations.

He was appointed as independent adviser on the Scottish Ministerial Code in 2013 but this will be his first inquiry.

Ms Sturgeon referred herself after she was accused of breaking the code by meeting with Mr Salmond while he was under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct.

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