Sturgeon welcomes 'official, definitive, independent' ruling she did not breach ministerial code – as it happened
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- Full report: Nicola Sturgeon cleared of breaching ministerial code
- Timeline: what we know so far about Sturgeon and the Salmond inquiry
6.15pm GMT
The army's increased deployability and technological advantage will mean that greater effect can be delivered by fewer people. I've therefore taken the decision to reduce the size of the army from today's current strength of 76,500 trade trained personnel to 72,500 by 2025.
The army has not been at its established strength of 82,000 since the middle of last decade.
6.10pm GMT
Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, has said that Nicola Sturgeon is not free and clear", despite being exonerated by the independent adviser on the ministerial code, because the Scottish parliament's committee has not yet published its report on her. In a statement he said:
The first minister has been given a pass because it has been judged her failure of recollection' was not deliberate'.
I respect Mr Hamilton and his judgment but we cannot agree with that assessment. Nicola Sturgeon did not suddenly turn forgetful.
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