No one wins amid this awful mess

THE women who raised sexual misconduct allegations against Alex Salmond have been badly let down.

Yesterday’s climbdown at the Court of Session sends a shocking signal to anyone considering standing up to powerful men and institutions.

It shows a Scottish Government unable to live up to the standards every person is entitled to expect. It leaves the women who did have the courage to complain wondering why they bothered.

And it failed Salmond, who denies any wrongdoing. He proved the Government had not treated the complaints in an even-handed and transparent manner.

Nobody wins in this botched process. Scotland now have a Government at war with their former leader.

We have a civil service headed by a discredited Permanent Secretary facing calls for her resignation. And while the recriminations begin in earnest, two women’s allegations are left hanging.

The police inquiry continues and it must be beyond reproach or another institution will face criticism.

But for now, the damage has been done, not least to the Government’s reputation.

Nicola Sturgeon has achieved great strides in presenting her Government as a champion for women, for equality and for offering support to those who wish to speak out.

It’s hard to overstate how far the Scottish Government have undermined that legacy.