Former Scottish minister Alex Salmond arrested and charged by police

FORMER Scottish first minister Alex Salmond was yesterday (Thursday) arrested and charged by police.

No further details of the charge against the 64-year-old have been released.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a 64-year-old man has been arrested and charged, and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

"Proceedings are now live under the contempt of court act."

Mr Salmond, from Linlithgow, West Lothian, was Scotland's first minister from 2007 to 2014.

He had been under investigation by Police Scotland following claims of sexual harassment against him. He strenuously denies the allegations.

Earlier this month, the former SNP leader won a procedural case against the Scottish Government over its investigation into harassment allegations brought by two women.

He resigned his membership of the party in August 2018 after the allegations emerged.

The Scottish Government's handling of the allegations against Mr Salmond was ruled unlawful by Scotland's highest civil court.

Mr Salmond guided the SNP to a narrow Scottish election win in 2007 and then led a minority government as he became Scotland's first SNP First Minister.

In the 2011 election, he led the party to an unprecedented victory with a majority win, meaning the SNP's manifesto pledge to hold an independence referendum could be delivered.

But the result of the 2014 referendum - a 55% to 45% vote to stay in the UK - led to him stepping down as first minister and SNP leader.