I took time out to watch Alex Salmond today. It was a very robust performance (but I still wouldn’t buy a second hand car from him).
There were numerous times when he mentioned the documents he had that he was not allowed to share with the committee. He made a good case for a cover up despite one or two attacks.
You don’t need to prove wrongdoing, you just need to show somebody is not being fully transparent (even if they are right to withhold stuff) and you make a good case in front of the public.
He did some very clever sidesteps. He was not permitted to suggest to the committee the questions they should ask, so he told the committee what questions he thought the public would like answered.
But his best attack was to fail to call for the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon. On top of that he made a point of being positive about a wide range of people. By doing so he paints himself as a mild mannered chappie to give a contrast to the vicious all powerful first minister.
Whatever side you support in this you need to admit his testimony today has damaged the SNP. And the promise is that this is the tip of the iceberg. Today has probably put paid to a quick vote on independence.