MP should not have ‘hidden behind parliamentary privilege’ on Sturgeon – Gilruth

Former cabinet minister Sir David Davis should not have “hidden behind parliamentary privilege” when he made comments about Nicola Sturgeon in the Commons, the Scottish Deputy First Minister has said.

Jenny Gilruth did not address Sir David’s accusations directly, but said he should have aired his views in another manner.

On Thursday, the Tory MP said Sturgeon had “stitched up” his friend Alex Salmond and was part of a “cover-up” on the SNP’s finances.

He accused her of “lying” in relation to her knowledge of her ex-husband Peter Murrell’s crimes.

Murrell was jailed for more than five years in June after pleading guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP over a 12-year period.

Sturgeon has strongly denied knowing about the embezzlement and has spoken of feeling “betrayed” by her former husband.

In a statement released on her behalf, Sturgeon’s lawyer accused Sir David of being a “coward” for using parliamentary privilege, saying the MP was spreading conspiracy theories.

Parliamentary privilege means MPs cannot face civil lawsuits for defamation as a result of things they say in the House of Commons chamber.

Gilruth was asked about Sir David’s remarks while visiting Glasgow Central station on Friday.

She told the Press Association: “David Davis, as I understand it, has made a number of comments under parliamentary privilege so I’m 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.

“I think it’s fair to say that we had a court case in Scotland very recently, and of course, there was a victim in relation to the trial of Peter Murrell, and that was the Scottish National Party.”

She said the Scottish Government’s position on the issue had been “well documented”.

A spokesperson for Sturgeon responded to Sir David on Thursday, saying: “This member of the ‘Old Boys Club’ has been spreading conspiracy theories on behalf of the late Alex Salmond since 2021 – and now he is telling more lies about me.

“The fact that he hides like a coward behind the legal privilege of Westminster says everything we need to know about him.”