Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has publicly criticised the way a senior Conservative MP raised allegations about Nicola Sturgeon in the House of Commons, saying the remarks should not have been made under the protection of parliamentary privilege.
Parliamentary privilege and public comment
Jenny Gilruth declined to address the substance of Sir David Davis’s claims directly while speaking to the Press Association in Glasgow, but said the former cabinet minister should have aired his views outside the Commons chamber if he wished them to be debated in the public sphere.
“David Davis, as I understand it, has made a number of comments under parliamentary privilege so Im not going to comment on those. I think if those were his views, perhaps he should have shared them publicly and not hidden behind parliamentary privilege, as seems to have been the case in this instance.”
The remarks come after Sir David used parliamentary privilege to say Ms Sturgeon had “stitched up” Alex Salmond and alleged a “cover-up” relating to the SNP’s finances. He also accused her of "lying" about her knowledge of crimes committed by her former husband, Peter Murrell.
Context from recent legal proceedings
Peter Murrell was jailed in June after pleading guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP over a 12-year period. Ms Sturgeon has consistently denied any knowledge of the embezzlement and has described feeling “betrayed” by Murrell.
A statement issued on Ms Sturgeon’s behalf, through her lawyer, described Sir David’s use of parliamentary privilege as an act of cowardice and accused him of spreading conspiracy theories. Parliamentary privilege prevents MPs from facing civil defamation proceedings for statements made in the House of Commons.
- What was said: Sir David Davis made allegations in the Commons about Nicola Sturgeon’s role relating to Alex Salmond and SNP finances.
- Reaction: Ms Sturgeon’s lawyer condemned the remarks; Jenny Gilruth said the MP should not have relied on parliamentary privilege.
- Legal backdrop: Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzlement and received a custodial sentence.
| Person | Role | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Sir David Davis | Tory MP | Made allegations under parliamentary privilege |
| Jenny Gilruth | Deputy First Minister | Criticised use of privilege |
| Nicola Sturgeon | Former First Minister | Subject of allegations; denies knowledge |
The episode touches on the tension between robust parliamentary debate and the legal protections that allow MPs to speak freely in the chamber. Critics argue privilege should not be used to make allegations that could cause reputational harm without giving the person named the normal legal recourse.
Ms Gilruth also pointed to the recent court case involving Mr Murrell, noting the presence of a victim in that trial and that the Scottish Government’s position on these matters has already been documented.
The exchange is likely to fuel further political debate about the limits of parliamentary privilege and the responsibility of elected representatives when addressing matters that intersect with ongoing legal and reputational issues.
