Carmichael accepts responsibility for memo leak

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has accepted responsibility for a leaked, pre-election, memo that led to a The Daily Telegraph article claiming that Scotland’s First Minister would have preferred that David Cameron remain in Downing Street.

Leaked in April, the Scottish Office memo – which claimed that Nicola Sturgeon had made the comments to the French Ambassador in February – resulted in a Cabinet Office inquiry, the findings of which were released this afternoon.

Mr Carmichael’s special advisor Euan Roddin told the inquiry that he believed the memo was an accurate record of a conversation with the French Consul General and highlighted that the memo stated that part of the conversation might well have been “lost in translation”.

According to the Cabinet Office, “there is no reason to doubt that he [Mr Roddin] recorded accurately what he thought he had heard. There is no evidence of any political motivation or ‘dirty tricks’.”

Mr Carmichael confirmed to the inquiry that he had been asked by his advisor for his view on sharing the memo with the press and that he had agreed this should occur.

The Cabinet Office concluded: “He recognises that, as Secretary of State, he was responsible for his own conduct and that of his special advisor. He could, and should, have stopped the sharing of the memo and accordingly accepts responsibility for what occurred.”

Commenting this afternoon, Mr Carmichael said: “The Cabinet Office has today published the conclusions of its inquiry, after an internal account of the First Minister’s discussions with the French Ambassador was published in The Daily Telegraph on 3rd April.

“I had not seen the document before it was published in The Daily Telegraph, however I was aware of its content and agreed that my special advisor should make it public.

“I should not have agreed this. It was an error of judgement, which I regret. I accept full responsibility for the publication of the document.”

Mr Carmichael confirmed that he as written to the First Minister and the French ambassador to apologise to them both.

He added: “Had I still been a Government Minister, I would have considered this to be a matter that required my resignation. I have therefore informed the Cabinet Secretary that I will decline my ministerial severance payment.”

Mr Carmichael’s severance payment would have been £17,000.