Supreme Court asked to settle dispute over Sturgeon inquiry documents

The UK Supreme Court is being asked to rule on the Scottish government's refusal to release documents linked to an inquiry that cleared Nicola Sturgeon of breaching the ministerial code. The government cited legal professional privilege in refusing a freedom of information request from Benjamin Harrop. The Court of Session overturned a ruling by Information Commissioner David Hamilton that the documents should be released, but Hamilton is now seeking permission to take the case to the UK's highest court. Hamilton argues the ruling has wider implications for public access to information. The dispute traces back to the bitter row between Nicola Sturgeon and the late Alex Salmond over the handling of harassment complaints against him. Salmond was cleared in a criminal case, and Sturgeon was cleared of breaching the ministerial code in 2021. The specific request concerns internal discussions about claiming an FOI exemption for material gathered by James Hamilton KC.