Angela Grahame KC, Laura Thomson KC and Jason Beer KC, as well as junior counsel Rachel Barrett and Sarah Loosemore, were reported on Friday to have resigned from the inquiry.

Their decision came days after Lord Bracadale stepped down amid the threat of judicial review proceedings from the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which questioned his impartiality.

Mr Bayoh, a 31-year-old father of two, died in May 2015 after being restrained by six police officers on a street in Kirkcaldy. The public inquiry has been examining the events leading to and surrounding his death, the subsequent police investigation, and whether race played a part.

In a statement, Bayoh family lawyer Aamer Anwar said the resignation of the inquiry’s legal team was inevitable after Lord Bracadale’s decision.

Mr Anwar said: “Let me be clear – Lord Bracadale had done nothing wrong. He is a judge with over 50 years’ legal experience, respected for his impartiality and integrity.

“For over three years, the inquiry’s legal team, led by King’s Counsel Angela Grahame and Laura Thomson, subjected the police and Crown to devastating forensic analysis without fear or favour.

“For the family. the overwhelming evidence was that police officers should have been prosecuted and that the previous lord advocate, James Wolffe KC, failed to investigate racism.”

He added: “Whether the family walk away from this inquiry depends on whether the new chair is impartial and robust, acting without fear or favour.

“We hope the new chair can win the confidence of the legal team who have resigned to return.

“As for what next – the solicitor general has the evidence, she should now truly do her public duty and put those police officers suspected of criminality on trial.”

David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “This situation has highlighted longstanding questions about whether a public inquiry was ever the most suitable mechanism to examine these events.

“A fatal accident inquiry could have provided the necessary scrutiny while avoiding some of the expense and controversy that have surrounded these proceedings.

“The Scottish Police Federation’s responsibility has always been to ensure that the officers involved are treated fairly and that due process is upheld.

“It is now for the Scottish government to determine how best to restore public confidence and bring this matter to a credible conclusion.”