This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32976374
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Standards watchdog to investigate Carmichael memo leak | Standards watchdog to investigate Carmichael memo leak |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has launched a formal inquiry into the conduct of former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael. | The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has launched a formal inquiry into the conduct of former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael. |
| The Orkney and Shetland MP has been under pressure after admitting the leak of a memo during the election campaign. | The Orkney and Shetland MP has been under pressure after admitting the leak of a memo during the election campaign. |
| The memo incorrectly suggested that Ms Sturgeon would prefer David Cameron as prime minister over Ed Miliband. | |
| The watchdog will consider Mr Carmichael's actions under the MPs' code of conduct. | |
| The confidential memo at the centre of the controversy was written by a civil servant in the Scotland Office. | |
| It 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. | |
| Code of Conduct | |
| The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner will investigate Mr Carmichael's actions under three sections of the MPs' code of conduct. These are: | |
| 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 leak said Mr Carmichael's former special adviser Euan Roddin gave the details to the Daily Telegraph - but that he had Mr Carmichael's permission to do so. | |
| Mr Carmichael had denied knowing about the memo when asked about the leak at the time, saying the first he had heard of it was when he received a phone call from a journalist. | |
| He has since apologised and accepted full responsibility for the leak. | |
| The SNP have said that Mr Carmichael faced a "credibility crisis", and repeatedly called for a formal investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner to be held. | |
| Mr Carmichael has previously rejected calls to resign, saying that his work as a local MP is "the record on which I am entitled to rely." | |
| "That's the job that I am now going to be getting on with. None of that has changed," he has said. |