First Minister 'put pressure' on St Andrews principal Louise Richardson
Source said he spent ten minutes trying to
'put words in her mouth'
She
then rejected the 'suggested statement', according to Daily Telegraph
A spectacular row broke out last night over Alex Salmond’s alleged attempts to silence a leading Scottish academic who questioned independence.
A spectacular row broke out last night over Alex Salmond’s alleged attempts to silence a leading Scottish academic who questioned independence.
The first minister tried to force
Louise Richardson, Principal of St Andrews University, to tone down warnings
about the adverse impact of a Yes vote.
A source said he spent ten minutes
attempting to ‘put words in her mouth’
Leaked emails revealed how the SNP leader’s special adviser, Geoff Aberdein, urged Professor Richardson to attack the Westminster government over funding for higher education, the Daily Telegraph said.
He reportedly emailed her press
secretary with a suggested statement, reading: ‘The Scottish Government has
risen to the challenge on fees in stark contrast to the government south of the
border and I’m sure they can rise to the challenge on research funding as well.’
But in a reply, Professor Richardson
wrote: ‘I’m sorry but I’m afraid I cannot agree to this statement.’
It is also claimed the First Minister
called Professor Richardson, the first female principal of the 600-year-old
institution, and told her to rectify remarks she made about the consequences of
Scotland leaving the UK.
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