Findlay refuses to back down in Lord Advocate 'corruption' claim row

He says FM has been given 'political advantage'

- BY RICHARD ELIAS

THE leader of the Scottish Conservatives has renewed his calls for the Lord Advocate to quit over her role in passing details of a former top SNP figure's upcoming court case to the First Minister.

Russell Findlay yesterday repeated his earlier claims that Dorothy Bain KC's actions "smack of corruption" ahead of the upcoming Holyrood election in May.

The astonishing outburst came after one leading defence lawyer condemned the politician's comments and demanded he apologise.

But in a brusque riposte, Mr Findlay pointed out that among Thomas Ross KC's previous clients was the "thug who attacked me with acid".

The ongoing row centres on emails sent to the First Minister John Swinney by Ms Bain regarding the prosecution of the former chief executive of the SNP.

Peter Murrell, the estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, is charged with embezzling almost £460,000 from the party.