Sturgeon has serious questions to answer

4.28.30pm GMT Tue 23rd Feb 2010

Commenting ahead of Nicola Sturgeon's statement to the Scottish Parliament, where she will attempt to explain why she wrote to the Sheriff Court on behalf of a convicted fraudster, Liberal Democrat MSP for Glasgow Robert Brown said:

"Nicola Sturgeon's actions have left her in a very difficult position, exacerbated by the First Minister's overstated claim that the MSP Code of Conduct somehow obliged MSPs to represent constituents, no matter how reprehensible their case.

"This sorry case has cast doubt on her judgement. Nicola Sturgeon needs to explain how and why she changed her view from the one she expressed in 2008 that we should all act as "counter-fraud champions". Writing a begging letter on behalf of a convicted fraudster, in which she described his crimes as 'mistakes', doesn't quite seem to fit that statement of principle."