Nicola Sturgeon has “an entitlement to a private life” following her separation from Peter Murrell, the First Minister has said.
John Swinney described the end of the relationship between the former SNP leader and the party’s ex-chief executive as a “very sad process”.
He refused to be drawn on comments by the leader of the Scottish Conservatives on whether the timing of Sturgeon’s announcement was linked to Operation Branchform.
Russell Findlay had used a Tory event in Edinburgh yesterday to claim the first minister “doesn’t do very much at all without a reason”.
The senior Conservative told reporters: “I’ve got a calculator on the phone that’s perhaps less calculating than the former first minister. She doesn’t do very much at all without a reason. I guess it may well be connected to ongoing issues that are happening elsewhere. I guess time will soon tell.”
Swinney was in Stirling today to set out his determination to end the two-child cap on benefits. Speaking to journalists after the event, he insisted people in public life had a right to privacy.
Asked about Findlay’s comments, Swinney said: “All I will say about this is – the end of any relationship is a very sad process, and of necessity, a private process. And I think those circumstances should be respected. I have nothing to say about Russell Findlay’s comments.”
The SNP leader added: “I just think we should respect people’s privacy. However high profile people are in public life, they have an entitlement to a private life, and I think we should respect people’s right to do so.”
Asked if Findlay’s comments had diminished him, Swinney responded: “I don’t spend an awful lot of time in my life resting in my mind on whether Russell Findlay is diminished or enhanced.”
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