The Scottish government introduced a harassment procedure rather too hastily which was inadequately specified. What the government needs to do now is come up with a new procedure that almost entirely has to be independent. So if any civil servant in the future makes a complaint about any minister, however powerful, it is adjudicated not within the civil service but outside. That is obviously a crucial lesson. If we focus on that, we will indeed have found a way of improving the way we are governed in future.
Sir John Curtice
Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University
