FM Sturgeon Under Pressure With Predecessor Set To Testify Tomorrow

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is under pressure following the publication last night of evidence from former First Minister Alex Salmond to two parliamentary enquiries examining the actions of Sturgeon in relation to the handling of sexual assault allegations against Salmond (a subsequent court trial acquitted Salmond on all counts).

• The two enquires are to examine whether Sturgeon broke the ministerial code, and whether she mishandled complaints related to the allegations against Salmond.
• Salmond served as first minister from 2007 to 2014 and was previously seen as Sturgeon's mentor within the governing pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP). However, their relationship soured in subsequent years and Salmond has alleged that Sturgeon's staff engaged in "a deliberate, prolonged, malicious and concerted effort… to damage my reputation, even to the extent of having me imprisoned." .
• With Salmond testifying tomorrow, Sturgeon is expected to follow next week. The matter has significant implications for both the governance of Scotland and the prospect of a second Scottish independence referendum.
• Sturgeon is extremely popular among large swathes of the Scottish population, even those that are not inclined towards independence, due to perceptions of her effectively handling the pandemic in Scotland. Should she be forced to resign it would deal a major blow to the SNP just months ahead of elections for the Scottish parliament due on 6 May. There has been increasing speculation that a strong majority for the SNP in the elections to the devolved parliament could be the first step towards a second independence referendum. Should the enquiries' proceedings cause major reputational damage to Sturgeon or force her from office it could see the SNP underperform in the elections, significantly reducing the bargaining power of pro-independence politicians to request a legal independence referendum.