Retired civil servant did not discuss Alex Salmond's 'bullying behaviour' with Nicola Sturgeon

Sarah Jessica Parker is getting candid about And Just Like That.

Nicola Sturgeon will make a statement to the Scottish Parliament later today on lockdown levels across the country.The First Minister and her Cabinet will this morning sign off the latest set of restrictions for all 32 local authority areas before they are announced at Holyrood this afternoon.Sturgeon warned Scots yesterday it was "unlikely" there will be an easing of restrictions in any part of the country - but some council areas could see them tightened.A five-tier framework to set local lockdowns was introduced by the Scottish Government last month.It comes after Scotland has recorded one death from coronavirus and 912 positive tests in the past 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon said.The First Minister said the death toll under this measure –

Alex Salmond had earlier made a “disclosure” to a top civil servant in Nicola Sturgeon’s office.John Somers, principal private secretary to the First Minister, received the information at a meeting weeks before a complaint was made to the Government about Salmond.However, it is unclear from a letter sent by the Government to the Holyrood Inquiry what the woman told Somers.Labour MSP Jackie Baillie described the meeting as "extraordinary".A Holyrood committee is examining how in 2018 the SNP Government botched the investigation of sexual misconduct allegations by two female officials against Salmond.The former First Minister took the Government he used to lead to court and it was agreed the 2018 internal probe had been unlawful.The bungled

Nicola Sturgeon has said it is “highly unlikely” she will tomorrow announce a significant easing of covid restrictions for any part of the country.She said Scotland is in a “far better” position than it was, but noted there still needed to be a big decline in cases.However, she did not rule out tougher restrictions for some areas.The Scottish Government recently announced a five-tier system of restrictions for the country’s local authority areas.The first weekly review will be announced in Parliament tomorrow.At her media briefing, Sturgeon said the measures already adopted had undoubtedly had a “positive impact”.She said: “We are in a far better position than we would have been without the current restrictions that are in place.”However,

Nicola Sturgeon has said she would be breaching the Ministerial code if she handed over her Government’s legal advice in the Alex Salmond case.

Alex Salmond case is undermining Nicola Sturgeon's position.

Alex Salmond case.

Alex Salmond sexual misconduct probe. A debate urging Nicola Sturgeon 's administration to hand over the advice is under way at Holyrood and a vote will take place later this afternoon.

Nicola Sturgeon has said the Government is looking at making travel restrictions mandatory. She said she is considering putting the current advice into regulations which are set out in law.As part of the current set of restrictions, people living in one of the five tiers are either advised against unnecessary travel, or urged to minimise such journeys.Get all the top Scottish politics news sent straight to your Inbox by signing up to our Politics newsletter.We cover Holyrood, Westminster and local councils, with a current focus on how our governments are handling the coronavirus pandemic.To sign up, simply enter your email address into the pink box near the top of this article.Alternatively, you can visit our newsletter sign up-centre.

Get the stories that interest you straight to your inbox every day with our personalised newsletterFirst Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she didn’t know positive Covid-19 patients were moved to care homes until August -  despite us publishing the fact in June.The local democracy reporting service revealed how 11 patients with coronavirus were discharged from Ayrshire hospitals to the care homes between March 10 and May 19. Cabinet secretary for health Jeane Freeman, who represents Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley is among the ministers who had no idea of the situation, it is said.Ms Sturgeon said she and other ministers only became aware of the practice from a national paper  in August - two months after the Ayrshire Post first published the

hospitality premises will be able open across the central belt during the day under changes announced by Nicola Sturgeon.The controversial definition of a cafe is being removed by the Scottish Government, after a backlash, meaning all premises can operate in the day up to 6pm without selling alcohol.At level 2, which currently covers the rest of Scotland, hospitality premises can sell alcohol indoors with a main meal up to 8pm instead of 6pm, allowing scope for evening meals.Hotels and other accommodation will continue to be able to serve evening meals to residents.The new rules start from Monday November 2, the First Minister confirmed, but will be kept under review.Further changes could be made to low level background sound in pubs during

Nicola Sturgeon’s most senior officials met one of the people who made a complaint against Alex Salmond, the former First Minister’s lawyer has said.

SPFL season. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled a new five-level pandemic response on Friday afternoon designed to streamline restrictions by local authority area instead of health board.

botched handling of allegations against Alex Salmond was the result of "incompetence and secrecy", an MSP has claimed. Jackie Baillie, a member of the committee investigating why ministers ultimately lost a judicial review to the former SNP leader, said newly published documents revealed the process was flawed months before its conclusion.

Alex Salmond.A Holyrood vote will take place next week and all the opposition parties are supporting calls for the advice to be released.A special Holyrood committee is examining how the Government investigated complaints of sexual harassment against Salmond.The former SNP leader challenged the Government in court and it was agreed the probe had been unlawful.The fiasco destroyed the relationship between Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon and cost the taxpayer over £500,000.A key issue is that the Holyrood committee wants to see the Government’s legal advice relating to Salmond’s judicial review.However, the Government has refused on the grounds of legal privilege.One Holyrood source told the Daily Record it was important to establish when the

Salmond Inquiry.Barbara Allison initially denied receiving an email from Scottish Government Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans which referenced a “war”.However, she said material retrieved from her mobile phone has confirmed she received the message on the day Salmond won his legal battle against the SNP Government.A Holyrood committee is investigating how in 2018 the SNP Government handled complaints of sexual misconduct against Salmond when he was First Minister.Salmond pursued a judicial review and the Government conceded their internal probe had been unlawful and tainted by apparent bias.The bungled investigation, which destroyed the long-standing friendship between Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, cost the public purse over

schoolboy who transformed into Nicola Sturgeon for Halloween got the seal of approval from the First Minister herself.The seven-year-old from North Lanarkshire donned his finest wig, heels and purple dress, complete with poppy badge, to dress up as the Ms Sturgeon for Halloween.In a short clip, the funnyman has a go at Scots comedian, Janey Godley's side-splitting voice overs of the coronavirus daily briefings that have gone down a storm wordwide.The 'wee star' from Coatbridge had the FM and droves of online followers in stitches on Friday morning after his mum, Alyson Welsh shared the video on Twitter.Picking the best lines from Janey's videos, he says to the camera: "Ye were telt, stay in the hoose."Nae parties, save lives."Uch ma feet

First Minister said the advice to the Scottish Government was that it was not "safe" to lift the curbs.The Government recently implemented a series of temporary restrictions which are due to expire on Monday.Across the country, pubs and restaurants have only been able to open indoors between 6am and 6pm, but no alcohol is allowed to be sold.The hospitality curb is even greater in five health board areas where pubs and restaurants have been closed, apart from takeaways.With a new 5 "tier" system of restrictions likely to come into force on November 2nd, there has been speculation about what will happen to the temporary restrictions between  Monday and the new regime coming into force days later.Sturgeon hinted earlier this week that the

Alex Salmond probe led to a £500,000 hit for the taxpayer has defended herself.Judith Mackinnon, who was the investigating officer in the Salmond case despite having prior contact with the complainants, insisted she acted appropriately, objectively and fairly.However, she also told MSPs that the part of the Government’s anti-harassment policy that was linked to Salmond's court victory had “not yet” been made clearer.A Holyrood committee is investigating how in 2018 the SNP Government handled complaints of sexual misconduct against Salmond when he was First Minister.Salmond challenged the fairness of the process in court, after which the Government conceded their internal probe had been unlawful and tainted by apparent bias.The bungled

Nicola Sturgeon has branded a debate about extending free school meals in England as "jaw-dropping". The First Minister weighed into the House of Commons debate as Tory MPs looked to crunch a Labour Party motion to allow kids in poverty to be fed over the holiday period.Sturgeon responded to Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith who slammed the free school meal motion.

@scotgov is handling the pandemic well."Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: “People have made huge sacrifices for months on end, they will be devastated to hear that Christmas as they know it is cancelled this year.