The woman at the centre of a cronyism row about T in the Park threatened to sue Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, The Courier can reveal.
Jennifer Dempsie, previously a special adviser to former First Minister Alex Salmond, set up a meeting between the Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop and DF Concerts bosses in her role she held working for the promotions company.
The festival was subsequently awarded £150,000 to help with its move from Balado to Strathallan.
The donation has been dogged by controversy. Today Holyrood’s Education Committee will consider recalling Ms Hyslop for a second evidence session.
Ms Dempsie took issue with a claim made by Alex Rowley in a radio interview and a legal letter was sent to the Cowdenbeath MSP.
In a statement to be issued on his website today, the former Fife Council leader will clarify the statement but called for the donation process to be subject to “proper parliamentary scrutiny”.
A Labour spokesman said: “We need full transparency on this issue rather than people attempting to shut down debate.”
Ms Dempsie said: “Alex Rowley MSP crossed the line and now appears to recognise the need to distance himself from his own incorrect and misleading statement. My reputation is being used in a partisan fight in which I appear to be regarded as acceptable collateral damage, which is extremely disappointing behaviour. Hopefully he and his colleagues will refrain from making misleading statements in the future.”