pounds 20,000 pay-off for former Dewar aide

SCOTTISH FIRST Minister Donald Dewar's departed chief of staff John Rafferty will receive a pay-off of almost pounds 20,000, it emerged today.

Mr Dewar said Mr Rafferty, who was paid more than pounds 70,000 a year, would get the equivalent of three months' salary.

In a letter to SNP leader Alex Salmond, the First Minister also said Mr Rafferty left his post because he could no longer be trusted.

Mr Rafferty was sacked on Thursday amid accusations he misled the public with exaggerated claims of death threats to Susan Deacon, the Health Minister, when she hit out at militant anti-abortion campaigners.

Mr Dewar told Mr Salmond: "As you will recognise, the relationship between a Special Adviser and Minister is founded on trust. If that trust is seriously damaged, the right relationship is no longer possible. Sadly, I came to the conclusion that the links between myself and John Rafferty were weakened to an extent that it was right to ask him to leave his post."

Mr Dewar said the compensation package to his former top aide was normal practice.

Earlier Mr Salmond claimed Executive spin doctors were creating a "phantom news agenda based upon bogus stories" adding: "This culture must be rooted out."