David Cameron has pointed the finger at the Liberal Democrats over the leaking of a controversial memo claiming Nicola Sturgeon wanted to see him remain prime minister.
The Lib Dems were forced to issue a statement today denying that they were responsible for the breach, accusing the Conservative leader of “mudslinging”.
Mr Cameron had earlier appeared to suggest that Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael may have been involved in the leak of a report of an alleged conversation between the first minister and French ambassador Sylvie Bermann.
Asked if he suspected the hand of the Lib Dems, Mr Cameron replied: “I have heard very clearly David Mundell (the Tory Scotland Office Minister) saying it wasn’t him, so one does wonder.”
It was also reported that an adviser to Mr Carmichael was due to be questioned by Cabinet Office officials conducting a leak inquiry.
A Lib Dem spokesman said: “David Cameron’s attempt at mudslinging does a terrible job at masking what’s at the heart of this matter.
“The Scottish people have a right to know that the Conservatives and SNP are involved in an invisible Faustian pact.
“He wants Sturgeon to triumph in Scotland to pave his way back to Number 10, while the SNP secretly yearn for a Tory win as they misguidedly believe it will increase their chances of another Scottish referendum.
“The leak was not from a Liberal Democrat and that is the end of the matter.”
Ms Sturgeon complained of “dirty tricks” and issued a denial after a confidential memo written in the Scotland Office claimed she told the ambassador that she did not see Ed Miliband as “prime ministerial material”.