The SNP have been accused of hypocrisy over bullying allegations against former Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing.
Nicola Sturgeon’s Government has refused to reveal the outcome of the Ewing case, yet her party demanded the publication of a bullying report into Tory Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “This is sheer hypocrisy from the SNP.
“It cannot be one rule for the SNP and another for everyone else.
“The SNP must stop hiding behind GDPR and end this culture of secrecy and cover up.”
Ewing was reportedly the subject of a bullying complaint by officials when he was Sturgeon’s Rural Economy and Tourism Cabinet Secretary. He has denied the claims.
The investigation was completed last year, but the First Minister has sparked fury by refusing to comment on the outcome.
Sturgeon told the Record last week that “GDPR privacy issues” prevented her from talking about the outcome.
She also told MSPs yesterday that she could risk breaching the law if she answered questions.
This response stands in stark contrast to the SNP’s response to bullying claims against Patel.
In 2020, calls were made by a former UK Government adviser for a report to be published into the allegations against Patel.
In a press release at the time, the SNP backed these demands: "Following the call for the Priti Patel bullying report to be made public by a No. 10 adviser, the SNP has ramped up the pressure - demanding the UK government publish the documents as a step towards clamping down on a ‘wider pattern’ of behaviour.”
In a split on the Ewing case, SNP MP Joanna Cherry backed transparency after the First Minister cited data protection legislation.
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.”
Ewing is no longer a member of the Government.
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