She insisted that her version of events concerning the allegations against Mr Salmond was ‘not a story’ but the truth.
Nicola Sturgeon is accused of lying to the Scottish Parliament about when she knew of two female civil servants’ sexual assault allegations against Mr Salmond – and could be forced to resign if the claims are proven.
She insisted that her version of events concerning the allegations against Mr Salmond was ‘not a story’ but the truth.
But the Scottish Tories said tonight: ‘Nicola Sturgeon dodged and evaded almost every difficult question. She vividly remembers the details she believes exonerate her, then forgets entirely anything that damages her. The litany of lies and abject failures is too much for any First Minister to survive. She must go.’
They had already vowed to trigger a vote of no confidence in her and are hoping for the support of other opposition parties to oust her.
Accusations that she misled Parliament – which if proven could force her to resign – came after it emerged she had a prior meeting on March 29 with Mr Salmond’s former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein, about harassment claims.
Ms Sturgeon previously stated she ‘forgot’ about this meeting and today said that the gravity of the April 2 meeting had ‘obliterated’ her memory of the March 29 one.
She told MSPs: ‘What happened in my house on April 2, in my dining room with a man that’s been all these things to me for thirty years, was so significant, that that was the thing that will live with me forever. Did that, in my mind, slightly obliterate what came before that? Possibly.’
Ms Sturgeon added that on March 29 Mr Aberdein raised harassment claims ‘in general terms’ but not specifically in relation to Mr Salmond.
She said: ‘As you know, and it’s been the subject of comment and scepticism and I understand that: I didn’t remember this meeting. 
‘And my recollection of this meeting is still not as vivid as I’d like it to be. I won’t go into the detail, but it was a colleague’s birthday, we stepped into my office.
‘He indicated there was a harassment issue, to the best of my recollection it was in general terms. What I remember more strongly is how worried he was about Alex and the main purpose of the discussion, as I recall it, was for him to get me to agree to see Alex.’
She also said that Mr Aberdein had expressed fears that Mr Salmond was poised to quit the SNP, which prompted her to agree to meet with her predecessor a few days later.
Her remarks raised eyebrows from Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton, who cast doubt on the veracity of her claims.
He said: ‘This massive and devastating fear and belief that you had that your friend and mentor of 30 years was about to quit your party came from a meeting that you claimed to have forgotten all about. Sorry First Minister, but do you realise how unlikely that sounds?’
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser added: ‘I share Mr Cole-Hamilton’s scepticism about your forgetfulness… We’re struggling to believe the story that you forgot about this meeting.’
Ms Sturgeon shot back: ‘It’s not a story, it’s an account of what happened.’
Allies of Ms Sturgeon rode to her defence, with justice minister Humza Yousaf accusing members of the committee of a ‘house of cards conspiracy’ – tweets that were condemned online, given his position in government.
Tom. A , analysis Editor from NewPressLive asked a question: How can she “not remember” about a key meeting about sexual misconduct?
Tom. A , analysis Editor from NewPressLive.com
