Nicola Sturgeon’s husband will be quizzed today by MSPs at a session of Holyrood’s Alex Salmond inquiry.
Peter Murrell, who is the SNP chief executive, is likely to be asked about text messages he sent which appeared to show him urging the police to be pressurised in the Salmond case.
A special Holyrood committee is examining how the Scottish Government bungled the handling of sexual misconduct complaints against the former First Minister.
After Salmond pursued a judicial review, it was accepted the internal Government probe had been unlawful.
Not only did the debacle cost the taxpayer over £500,000, but it ended the long-standing friendship between Sturgeon and Salmond, whose allies believe he was targeted by the Government.
Murrell, who has a low media profile, will be the latest witness to appear in front of the Inquiry.
A key issue will be meetings Sturgeon and Salmond held at the couple’s house during the Government investigation on the probe.
In written evidence, Murrell said he had not been told about the subject matter under discussion:
“I knew about the meetings between Nicola and Alex Salmond at our home on 2 April and 14 July 2018 and I had the sense that something serious was being discussed. Nicola told me she couldn’t discuss the details. The nature of Nicola’s job means that when she tells me she can’t discuss something, I don’t press it.”
Murrell is also expected to be asked about texts he sent in relation to the criminal case against Salmond.
Separate to the Government probe, Salmond was acquitted of sexual offences charges earlier this year.
The Daily Record then revealed that SNP MP Kenny MacAskill received an anonymous document about the criminal case.
The document, which MacAskill handed to the Holyrood committee, showed messages sent by Murrell on the day after Salmond was charged in 2019.
The first message stated: "Totally agree folk should be asking the police questions... report now with the PF on charges which leaves police twiddling their thumbs. So good time to be pressurising them. Would be good to know Met looking at events in London."
The second message stated: "TBH the more fronts he is having to firefight on the better for all complainers. so CPS action would be a good thing."
In writing, Murrell confirmed to the committee he had sent the messages, but admitted he had not expressed himself "well" in the texts.
