Alistair Carmichael should consider his position as MP, says First Minister

Although she has accepted his apology, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said this afternoon that Alistair Carmichael should apologise to his constituents and consider his position as MP for the Northern Isles.

Ms Sturgeon was responding to the letter she received from Mr Carmichael, apologising for his part in leaking a Scottish Office memo that led to a pre-election newspaper article claiming she had said she wanted David Cameron to remain in Downing Street.

In his letter to the First Minister, the former Secretary of State for Scotland said that he accepted the memo’s publication was a “serious breach of protocol” and that its contents were not correct.

He added: “I am clear that this was an error of judgement on my part and wish to offer you my sincere apologies for the embarrassment caused to you and the French ambassador.”