Alex Salmond inquiry MSPs accused by union chief of 'open hostility' towards civil servants

By Conor Matchett
Published 23rd Feb 2021, 07:00 BST
Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans has been the target of attacks suggesting she will be 'thrown under the bus' as a result of the Salmond Inquiry.Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans has been the target of attacks suggesting she will be 'thrown under the bus' as a result of the Salmond Inquiry.
Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans has been the target of attacks suggesting she will be 'thrown under the bus' as a result of the Salmond Inquiry.
The head of the union for civil servants has launched a scathing attack on the MSPs at the heart of the investigation into the Scottish Government’s handling of harassment complaints against Alex Salmond.

Dave Penman, the general secretary of the FDA, criticised the handling of the Salmond inquiry by MSPs and said civil servants had been treated with “almost open hostility".

He also accused inquiry members of making “derogatory comments” about civil servants and “deliberately misquoting” oral evidence.

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Mr Penman’s comments come after it was reported the Scottish Government’s permanent secretary, Leslie Evans, is set to be "thrown under a bus” by SNP members of the committee.

Dave Penman, the FDA's general secretary was scathing of the way MSPs had approached the civil service during the inquiry.Dave Penman, the FDA's general secretary was scathing of the way MSPs had approached the civil service during the inquiry.
Dave Penman, the FDA's general secretary was scathing of the way MSPs had approached the civil service during the inquiry.

Ms Evans is one of several civil servants who have come under serious scrutiny for their role in the development of the harassment complaints process and their handling of the complaints themselves.

The committee is examining the botched handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond by the Scottish Government, which led to a £500,000 legal bill after the Government conceded a judicial review challenge on the grounds of the process being “tainted by apparent bias”.