Commenting after First Minister’s Questions, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie MSP said:

“Last year First Minister would have called Leveson a “London-based court” with a judge who has “only been to Scotland for the Edinburgh Festival” such was his attitude towards the Supreme Court.

“It is astonishing that he has switched from a Celtic lion to a Celtic mouse in only a few short months.

“In a bid to protect his pal Rupert Murdoch he has forgotten that as First Minister of Scotland he is accountable to the Scottish Parliament.

“Mr Salmond should tell MSPs if his phone has been hacked and stop the needless guessing game. What has he got to hide?

“The First Minister must reconsider his position and let the Scottish Parliament launch its own investigation into the phone hacking scandal.”