Memo 'Written In Scotland Office'

The leaked memo containing an account of a private meeting between Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon and the French ambassador was written in the Scotland Office, Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has confirmed. Mr Carmichael denied he leak was embarrassing for the government department, stating this is the middle of an election campaign, these things happen''. Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood has ordered an inquiry into how the note - which claims that Ms Sturgeon told ambassador Sylvie Bermann that she would prefer to see Conservatives remain in power after the May 7 General Election - got into the public domain. The First Minister described the allegation as ''100% untrue'', while French officials said Ms Sturgeon did not express a preference for prime minister. The Scottish Secretary confirmed the memo was written in the Scotland Office during an interview with Channel 4 News. Asked if thebuck stops with him when it comes to the Scotland Office'', he said: Of course - as Secretary of State for Scotland I am responsible for the Scotland Office, but you know you seem to be making some fairly substantial presumptions about the role of the Scotland Office in this.That's why we're having a proper inquiry conducted by the Cabinet Office.'' Asked if the incident was embarrassing for him and for the Scotland Office, he replied: No look this is the middle of an election campaign, these things happen.I understand that the memo in question did actually come from the Scotland Office, but these things are circulated within government.'' The memo was written by a British civil servant following a conversation with consul-general Pierre-Alain Coffinier regarding a meeting between Ms Sturgeon and Ms Bermann who was on her first visit to Scotland in February. According to a copy published on the Daily Telegraph website, it said: ''Discussion appears to have focused mainly on the political situation, with the FM stating that she wouldn't want a formal coalition with Labour; that the SNP would almost certainly have a large number of seats... that she'd rather see David Cameron remain as PM.'' The note went on to say that Ms Sturgeon had said she did not think Labour leader Ed Miliband was ''prime minister material''. Yesterday, she said the incident suggested a Whitehall system out of control - a place where political dirty tricks are manufactured and leaked''. Writing in today's Observer, the First Minister said:This story has already been shown to be 100% untrue - having been comprehensively rejected by both the French ambassador and consul general.''