An SNP veteran has called on Nicola Sturgeon to reveal the outcome of a bullying probe into party stalwart Fergus Ewing.
Alex Neil accused the First Minister of “secrecy” and said transparency is the “right thing to do”.
Ewing was reportedly the subject of a bullying complaint by civil servants when he was Sturgeon’s Rural Economy and Tourism Cabinet Secretary.
The probe has been completed but Sturgeon is refusing to say whether the complaint was upheld.
She cited “GDP privacy issues” and told MSPs she could be breaching the law by talking about it.
Her response has led to a split inside her own party, with senior figures contradicting her position.
Neil, a former SNP Health Secretary, told the Record he was not aware of the basis of the complaint against Ewing, but said: "On a point of principle, if there has been an investigation it is only right that Parliament is informed about the outcome. The Sturgeon Government is getting a reputation for unnecessary secrecy and they need to open up as much as possible.
“Letting people know the outcome of an investigation like this would be the right thing to do.”
His call came after SNP MP Joanna Cherry backed transparency minutes after Sturgeon refused to provide details of the case last week.
She tweeted: “Bullying is a significant issue in politics. Of course all allegations should be investigated and, if the fact there is an allegation is in the public domain, the outcome of the investigation should be made public. That is only fair to all concerned.”
Sturgeon said last week: “I am not in a position to get into these issues because there are very considerable legal data protection issues that I am bound by.”
“I have to abide by the law. I have a duty to uphold the law. And there are laws here on privacy and data protection that apply.
“And if I answer questions on this, I will be at risk of breaching that law.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “Even the most ardent Scottish nationalists can see that the culture of this SNP government is one of cover-up and secrecy.
“The public deserve to know the outcome of this investigation as a matter of transparency.
“After 15 years of being in government, we need to know why Nicola Sturgeon thinks it's one standard for her and another standard for everyone else.”
Ewing left the Government last year and has denied the claims.
The Scottish Government said they had nothing to add beyond what Sturgeon said last week.
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