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| Alistair Carmichael rejects calls to resign over leaked Nicola Sturgeon memo | Alistair Carmichael rejects calls to resign over leaked Nicola Sturgeon memo |
| (2 months later) | |
| Former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has rejected calls for him to resign over a leaked memo. | Former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has rejected calls for him to resign over a leaked memo. |
| The document, released before the general election, had suggested that Nicola Sturgeon wanted David Cameron to remain as prime minister. | |
| On Friday, a report revealed the Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland had given permission for it to be leaked. | On Friday, a report revealed the Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland had given permission for it to be leaked. |
| Opponents have urged him to stand down, but he said he wanted to "get on with" working for his constituents. | Opponents have urged him to stand down, but he said he wanted to "get on with" working for his constituents. |
| The confidential memo was written by a civil servant in the Scotland Office and was a third-hand account of a conversation between the Scottish first minister and the French ambassador, in which Ms Sturgeon was reported to have said she wanted David Cameron to remain as prime minister. | The confidential memo was written by a civil servant in the Scotland Office and was a third-hand account of a conversation between the Scottish first minister and the French ambassador, in which Ms Sturgeon was reported to have said she wanted David Cameron to remain as prime minister. |
| Both the first minister and the ambassador insisted this was not the case, and the memo had contained a disclaimer that parts of the conversation may have been "lost in translation". | Both the first minister and the ambassador insisted this was not the case, and the memo had contained a disclaimer that parts of the conversation may have been "lost in translation". |
| The official cabinet office inquiry into the leaking of the memo said Mr Carmichael's former special adviser Euan Roddin gave the details to the Daily Telegraph - but he had Mr Carmichael's permission to do so. | The official cabinet office inquiry into the leaking of the memo said Mr Carmichael's former special adviser Euan Roddin gave the details to the Daily Telegraph - but he had Mr Carmichael's permission to do so. |
| The SNP said Mr Carmichael faced a "credibility crisis". | The SNP said Mr Carmichael faced a "credibility crisis". |
| The nationalists have repeated calls for a formal investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards into Mr Carmichael's behaviour. | The nationalists have repeated calls for a formal investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards into Mr Carmichael's behaviour. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio Orkney, Mr Carmichael said: "I have said already that I very much regret the position I am in. I have been the member of parliament for Orkney and Shetland for the last 14 years. | Speaking to BBC Radio Orkney, Mr Carmichael said: "I have said already that I very much regret the position I am in. I have been the member of parliament for Orkney and Shetland for the last 14 years. |
| "I have worked hard for local people and believe that's the record on which I am entitled to rely and that's the job that I am now going to be getting on with. None of that has changed." | "I have worked hard for local people and believe that's the record on which I am entitled to rely and that's the job that I am now going to be getting on with. None of that has changed." |
| On Saturday, the Scottish Lib Dem's party executive agreed Mr Carmichael would not face any disciplinary action and the party's leader Willie Rennie has said the MP "deserved a second chance". | On Saturday, the Scottish Lib Dem's party executive agreed Mr Carmichael would not face any disciplinary action and the party's leader Willie Rennie has said the MP "deserved a second chance". |
| Ms Sturgeon previously called for Mr Carmichael to consider his position as an MP and described the leak of the confidential memo as a "blatant election dirty trick". | Ms Sturgeon previously called for Mr Carmichael to consider his position as an MP and described the leak of the confidential memo as a "blatant election dirty trick". |
| Protests have been held in Kirkwall in Orkney, and Lerwick in Shetland, calling for Mr Carmichael to resign. | Protests have been held in Kirkwall in Orkney, and Lerwick in Shetland, calling for Mr Carmichael to resign. |
| Mr Carmichael told BBC Radio Orkney: "We had an account of a discussion, which we believed to be true. | Mr Carmichael told BBC Radio Orkney: "We had an account of a discussion, which we believed to be true. |
| "The first minister and the French ambassador have both said that that was not part of the conversation and we have to accept that as being the truth. | "The first minister and the French ambassador have both said that that was not part of the conversation and we have to accept that as being the truth. |
| "But the fact of the matter is that the information that came to me, I had no reason to doubt." | "But the fact of the matter is that the information that came to me, I had no reason to doubt." |
| SNP MP Pete Wishart said Mr Carmichael must explain if he was sent a copy of the memo. | SNP MP Pete Wishart said Mr Carmichael must explain if he was sent a copy of the memo. |
| He said: "Mr Carmichael no longer has any credibility as an MP - the best course of action would be for him to stand down. | He said: "Mr Carmichael no longer has any credibility as an MP - the best course of action would be for him to stand down. |
| "Mr Carmichael must now explain if he was sent a copy of the memo before authorising the leak. If he was, he must then explain why he apparently failed to read his own ministerial papers. | "Mr Carmichael must now explain if he was sent a copy of the memo before authorising the leak. If he was, he must then explain why he apparently failed to read his own ministerial papers. |
| "A formal investigation by the Standards Commissioner would help shed light on these matters." | "A formal investigation by the Standards Commissioner would help shed light on these matters." |