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| Scottish independence: Salmond adviser apologises for email | Scottish independence: Salmond adviser apologises for email |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A special adviser to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has apologised to a woman who said she was attacked for supporting Scotland staying in the UK. | A special adviser to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has apologised to a woman who said she was attacked for supporting Scotland staying in the UK. |
| Mother-of-two Clare Lally spoke at an event organised by pro-Union campaign Better Together on Monday. | |
| The Telegraph said adviser Campbell Gunn contacted the newspaper to complain about her description as an "ordinary mum". | The Telegraph said adviser Campbell Gunn contacted the newspaper to complain about her description as an "ordinary mum". |
| Mr Gunn issued an unreserved apology for any offence caused to Ms Lally. | Mr Gunn issued an unreserved apology for any offence caused to Ms Lally. |
| The adviser, a former journalist who was previously political editor of The Sunday Post, was ordered to say sorry by Mr Salmond. | The adviser, a former journalist who was previously political editor of The Sunday Post, was ordered to say sorry by Mr Salmond. |
| Mr Gunn had wrongly claimed in an email to a Telegraph journalist that Ms Lally was the daughter-in-law of Pat Lally, a former Labour Lord Provost of Glasgow. | Mr Gunn had wrongly claimed in an email to a Telegraph journalist that Ms Lally was the daughter-in-law of Pat Lally, a former Labour Lord Provost of Glasgow. |
| "Nothing in the email I sent was intended in any way to be a personal slight on Ms Lally or question her absolute right to express her views, and I apologise unreservedly for the upset and offence that has been caused to her and her family," said Mr Gunn. | "Nothing in the email I sent was intended in any way to be a personal slight on Ms Lally or question her absolute right to express her views, and I apologise unreservedly for the upset and offence that has been caused to her and her family," said Mr Gunn. |
| Ms Lally said she was left in tears after a "disgusting" attack was launched against her through social media websites. | Ms Lally said she was left in tears after a "disgusting" attack was launched against her through social media websites. |
| Mr Gunn added: "I deplore online abuse directed against Ms Lally or anyone else - from whichever side in the referendum debate - and the assertion by the 'No' campaign that I had any involvement in the coordination of such activity is completely untrue. | Mr Gunn added: "I deplore online abuse directed against Ms Lally or anyone else - from whichever side in the referendum debate - and the assertion by the 'No' campaign that I had any involvement in the coordination of such activity is completely untrue. |
| "I sent one email to one journalist which in no way was intended to form the basis of a story. I am genuinely sorry I did so, and the first minister had no knowledge of it. | "I sent one email to one journalist which in no way was intended to form the basis of a story. I am genuinely sorry I did so, and the first minister had no knowledge of it. |
| "The first minister has previously met Ms Lally, as is also reported today, and holds her in the highest possible regard." | "The first minister has previously met Ms Lally, as is also reported today, and holds her in the highest possible regard." |
| Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said the first minister must sack Mr Gunn, who was formerly the political editor of The Sunday Post. | Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said the first minister must sack Mr Gunn, who was formerly the political editor of The Sunday Post. |
| Ms Lally, who is from Clydebank, told the event on Monday: "I'm just a normal person but I want to do something extraordinary. I want to do my bit to help keep people together." | Ms Lally, who is from Clydebank, told the event on Monday: "I'm just a normal person but I want to do something extraordinary. I want to do my bit to help keep people together." |
| Mr Salmond told the BBC he had met Ms Lally several times and she was "perfectly entitled to her view". | Mr Salmond told the BBC he had met Ms Lally several times and she was "perfectly entitled to her view". |
| He said the claim about Ms Lally was a "mistake", but added that it was not an insult because Pat Lally was an "estimable" person. | He said the claim about Ms Lally was a "mistake", but added that it was not an insult because Pat Lally was an "estimable" person. |
| The first minister said: "I've instructed the special adviser to apologise for any offence that's been caused by that - but she's not Pat Lally's daughter-in-law, she is an ordinary mother and she's absolutely entitled to express a view, as indeed every other person in Scotland is." | The first minister said: "I've instructed the special adviser to apologise for any offence that's been caused by that - but she's not Pat Lally's daughter-in-law, she is an ordinary mother and she's absolutely entitled to express a view, as indeed every other person in Scotland is." |
| Asked whether the first minister's staff should be briefing against people who express a view on independence, Mr Salmond replied: "It was a misunderstanding. | Asked whether the first minister's staff should be briefing against people who express a view on independence, Mr Salmond replied: "It was a misunderstanding. |
| "Saying that somebody thought somebody was somebody's daughter-in-law is not a grievous insult and shouldn't be taken as such. | "Saying that somebody thought somebody was somebody's daughter-in-law is not a grievous insult and shouldn't be taken as such. |
| "But, just to make sure, an apology will be on its way to underline the point." | "But, just to make sure, an apology will be on its way to underline the point." |
| Social media attacks | Social media attacks |
| The first minister was also asked to respond to claims from Ms Lally that she was targeted by abusive comments on social media. | The first minister was also asked to respond to claims from Ms Lally that she was targeted by abusive comments on social media. |
| He said: "I've always condemned anything that's said untoward on social media. | He said: "I've always condemned anything that's said untoward on social media. |
| "We're conducting a great debate in Scotland at the present moment - a debate that has to be conducted at the highest level, and I would ask everybody on social media, and any media, to conduct it in that term." | "We're conducting a great debate in Scotland at the present moment - a debate that has to be conducted at the highest level, and I would ask everybody on social media, and any media, to conduct it in that term." |
| The row came ahead of the 18 September Scottish independence referendum. | The row came ahead of the 18 September Scottish independence referendum. |