Claiming legal aid

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is facing calls to resign amidst fresh claims that she lied to parliament. It follows the Scottish government's publication of legal advice surrounding a court challenge by Alex Salmond in 2018. It shows that legal counsel warned the Scottish government of a "very real problem" more than two months before they were forced to concede in court. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sturgeon denies cover-up accusations Mr Salmond has accused Ms Sturgeon of breaching the ministerial code by not halting her government's legal challenge and costing the taxpayer more than £600,000 in legal costs. Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross said his party would be submitting a vote of no confidence in Ms Sturgeon. Advertisement He said: "There is no longer any doubt that Nicola Sturgeon lied to the Scottish Parliament and broke the Ministerial Code on numerous … [Read more...] about No confidence vote in Nicola Sturgeon to be submitted after Alex Salmond case legal advice published

Nicola Sturgeon will be asked about an undeclared meeting with her top civil servant after it emerged notes of their conversation may have been destroyed. Scotland's first minister held at least one meeting with her government's permanent secretary four months before she says she knew of harassment complaints against Alex Salmond, her predecessor. The meeting in November 2017 wasn't included in a timeline of events the Scottish government gave to Holyrood's harassment committee, despite MSPs asking for details of all meetings. Now Sky News has seen statements, given under oath by the permanent secretary Leslie Evans, stating that she may have made a note of a meeting with the first minister but wouldn't have kept it because: "I destroy all my notebooks." An opposition MSP has told Sky News she will query this when the first minister gives evidence to the Holyrood committee investigating the government's mishandling of its 2018 investigation into harassment complaints … [Read more...] about Nicola Sturgeon to be questioned about undeclared meeting with top official who may have destroyed notes

MEGHAN Markle is facing allegations of bullying staff made by one of her closest advisors during her time at Kensington Palace. A source told The Times newspaper the Duchess of Sussex drove two personal assistants out of the household and undermined the confidence of the third. The bombshell claims - denied by Meghan’s lawyers - come just days before Meghan, 39, and Harry, 36, give their “shocking” and “tell-all” interview to Oprah Winfrey on US telly. The newspaper reports a source came forward after claiming only a partial version of Meghan’s two years working as a member of the royal family had emerged. The claims were raised to HR in bid to get Buckingham Palace to protect the staff that Knauf alleged were coming under pressure from the duchess. A source told the newspaper that Prince Harry had pleaded with Knauf not to pursue the bullying allegations. Meghan was revealed as Harry’s girlfriend in 2016 and they married two years later before quitting royal duty … [Read more...] about Meghan Markle ‘faced bullying complaint from one of her closest advisers at Kensington Palace’