Scotland's top law officer could be stripped of her status as a legal adviser to the SNP government following the ‘corruption’ row over former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.
uncertain
officer → strip → Murrell
John Swinney announced an independent review is to look into the role and responsibilities of the Lord Advocate, a historic dual role which means the holder is the country’s chief prosecutor, and an adviser to ministers.
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holder → announce → ministers
Dorothy Bain KC – who stepped down from the position earlier this year – was fiercely criticised after it emerged she had briefed the First Minister on the charges facing jailed embezzler Peter Murrell almost a year before these were made public.
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these → step → Murrell
The review will be led by Lord Boyd of Duncansby, who has previously served as both Solicitor General and Lord Advocate, has been a Supreme Court judge and who prosecuted the case against the Lockerbie bomber.
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who → lead → bomber
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said: ‘The previous Lord Advocate politicised the role by backing SNP plans to scrap jury trials, effectively decriminalising possession of heroin, and tipping-off Swinney about Nicola Strurgeon’s crooked husband.
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Advocate → say → husband
‘But John Swinney has ordered yet another costly and time-consuming review.
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Swinney → order → review
He was jailed for embezzlement in June
First Minister John Swinney with new Lord Advocate Ruth Charteris KC in Holyrood on Tuesday
‘For the sake of public confidence in Scottish justice he should instead move swiftly to end the Lord Advocate’s dual role.
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he → jail → role
Announcing the review in a statement at Holyrood, Mr Swinney stressed the importance of having a ‘fully informed discussion about whether any changes should be made’ to the role of both the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General.
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changes → announce → Advocate
He said the issue must be considered ‘in an open and thoughtful way, to ensure that the significant constitutional, legal and operational issues are thoroughly explored’.
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issues → say → way
With current Lord Advocate Ruth Charteris KC sitting beside him, Mr Swinney told MSPs: ‘The review will examine the advantages and disadvantages of making changes to the current arrangements.
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review → sit → arrangements
‘It will consider the strengths and weaknesses of alternative models, engage with the legal, constitutional and practical implications of reform, and make recommendations to Scottish ministers.’
The First Minister added: ‘Crucially, the review will approach these issues with an open mind.
‘It will follow the evidence wherever it leads – whether that is to reforms or to maintaining the status quo.’
The review will start work next year, with a final report expected by the ‘latter part of 2027’.
He added that if changes are recommended, these could form the basis for a public consultation on the issue.
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these → consider → issue
The First Minister said: ‘It is right that we debate the future of the law officers’ roles.
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we → say → roles
‘These long-standing roles have been crucial to establishing, and sustaining, a legal framework in Scotland that commands public confidence, that provides dependable legal advice for Government and enables justice for all to be delivered.
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justice → stand → all
‘It is absolutely critical that in any process of reform those critical attributes are maintained.’
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attributes → maintain → reform
Lord Boyd said he would ‘approach the task with an open mind and will consult widely before making my recommendations to ministers in due course’.
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he → say → course
In February, Mr Swinney launched a desperate defence of his under-fire top law officer as she faced criticism for making a ‘gross misjudgment’ about the court hearing involving Murrell, who is Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband.
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who → launch → Murrell
The First Minister said then that he had ‘absolute confidence’ in Ms Bain but critics said his handling of the issue ‘smacks of corruption’.
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handling → say → corruption
He also drew fire for his actions, after passing on Ms Bain’s memo to his chief of staff Colin McAllister, half an hour after receiving it.
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He → draw → it
The memo confirmed that Murrell had been accused of embezzling £459,000 from party funds.
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Murrell → confirm → funds
Murrell was jailed for more than five years in June.
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Murrell → jail → June
Ms Bain argued telling the First Minister about the case was established practice but the Mail revealed in May that her predecessor, James Wolffe, KC, did not inform Nicola Sturgeon about the indictment against Alex Salmond when she was First Minister.
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she → argue → Salmond
The Crown Office was unable to explain the different approaches but insisted the rules about notifying the First Minister of legal cases were being ‘strengthened’.
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rules → explain → cases
The Mail also revealed in July that Ms Bain had applied to be a judge up to six months before she quit.
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she → reveal → July
Ms Bain said in mid-May that she intended to leave her post after five years as Lord Advocate – and formally resigned a month later.
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she → say → Advocate
She was appointed a judge by King Charles at the end of June following a recommendation by Mr Swinney.
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She → appoint → Swinney
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