Justice Secretary survives "No confidence" vote

Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill has survived a motion of no confidence in the Scottish Parliament. 

MSPs voted 62-54 against a Labour motion, supported by all the opposition parties, that criticised his "failure to provide effective governance of Police Scotland". All SNP members present, and two former members now sitting as independents, supported the minister.

The motion referred to the national force's policy allowing certain officers to carry firearms while on routine patrol, since dropped following a public campaign, and its setting of performance targets.

Labour justice spokesperson Graeme Pearson accused Mr MacAskill of "abandoning his responsibilities", and alleged previous failings in relation also to the abolition of corroboration, stop and search, and the release of the convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi.

In reply Mr MacAskill accused Mr Pearson of "traducing the police and th Scottish Police Authority", and "undermining the morale of officers and staff". 

He insisted that Police Scotland was "listening to concerns and acting on them, unlike Mr Pearson and his colleagues".