I’M NO SAINT
Salmond’s confession as he denies sex harassment Complaints ‘can’t be swept under carpet’ says Sturgeon SNP civil war as court case and police probes loom
ALEX Salmond yesterday admitted he is ‘no saint’ as police began probing extraordinary allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to his time as First Minister.
The former SNP leader made a series of admissions but denied he had sexually harassed anyone or been involved in criminality, amid an explosive legal battle with the Scottish Government. Mr Salmond said that he had made ‘mistakes’ in his personal and political life after Scotland’s top civil servant confirmed she had concluded an investigation into allegations by two staff members relating to his time in office five years ago.
The revelations emerged late on Thursday evening. Yesterday, in a day of dramatic developments:
Police confirmed that they are now examining allegations made against Mr Salmond.
The Scottish Government confirmed it had concluded its investigations into two complaints and intended to make the findings public, before being blocked by legal action from the former First Minister.
Nicola Sturgeon said that the issue cannot be allowed to be ‘swept under the carpet’ or ignored and spoke of finding it ‘extremely difficult’ to come
to terms with – and that it was ‘upsetting’ for the party.
Mr Salmond launched a remarkable media crusade as he waged war on the Government he used to lead.
Scotland’s top civil servant accused the former First Minister of ‘significant inaccuracies’ in his response to the allegations.
Opponents called for the SNP to suspend his membership of the party.
Yesterday, Leslie Evans, the Scottish Government’s Permanent Secretary, confirmed that an internal investigation into the two complaints had been concluded.
A shaken Miss Sturgeon yesterday admitted that she had known about the allegations ‘for some time’ and was struggling to come to terms with them.
In a statement, she confirmed that the complaints were considered as part of an internal procedure for handling harassment issues.
The investigation was launched in January 2018, and Miss Sturgeon said that she was made aware of it by Mr Salmond.
The First Minister said: ‘I have been clear on many occasions that all organisations and workplaces must make it possible for people to come forward to report concerns and have confidence that they will be treated seriously.
‘For that principle to mean anything it cannot be applied selectively. It must be applied without fear or favour, regardless of the identity, seniority or political allegiance of the person involved.
‘My relationship with Alex Salmond obviously makes this an extremely difficult situation for me to come to terms with. I am also acutely aware how upsetting this will be for my party.
‘However, the over-riding priority must be to ensure fair and due process. I would also ask that the privacy of those who have complained be respected.’
Police Scotland yesterday confirmed that it is conducting an ‘assessment’ of allegations made against the former First Minister.
A spokesman said: ‘We are carrying out an assessment of information which we have received and inquiries are at an early stage.’
The preliminary assessment will evaluate evidence, then officers will decide whether a formal probe is necessary.
Mrs Evans said she informed Mr Salmond on Wednesday of the conclusions of her own investigation, and that she felt it was in the ‘public interest’ to make the ‘facts of the complaint and investigation publicly known’.
Yesterday, she said: ‘Following legal proceedings instigated by Mr Salmond yesterday that statement was delayed.
‘However, given that Mr Salmond subsequently dropped those proceedings I am now able to confirm the fact of the complaints.’
Mr Salmond immediately condemned the decision to go public when the allegations were reported on Thursday evening.
He said the Permanent Secretary was ‘acting unlawfully’ in the way she dealt with the complaint and he had been denied the opportunity to speak to civil servants who could be witnesses.
Responding in a statement yesterday, Mrs Evans said: ‘I note that the former First Minister has indicated his intention to challenge the actions taken by the Scottish Government.
‘His statement contains significant inaccuracies which will be addressed in those court proceedings. The Scottish Government will defend its position vigorously.
‘You will appreciate that for legal reasons the Scottish Government is limited in what can be said.
‘The First Minister has had no role in this process. I advised
‘Applied without fear or favour’
her of the conclusions of my investigation on Wednesday and she is, of course, aware that I am making this statement today.
‘As the head of the Civil Service in Scotland, I have been consistently clear that there is no place for harassment of any kind in the workplace. In line with work already under way in the organisation to tackle inappropriate behaviour, I will consider carefully any issues about culture and working practices highlighted by these complaints.’
Mr Salmond yesterday embarked on a huge round of media interviews as he insisted he was not guilty of harassment. The former Nationalist MP told the BBC: ‘I have made many mistakes in my life, political and personal. But I have not sexually harassed anyone and I certainly have not been engaged in criminality.
‘I am no saint. I have got flaws, I understand that.’ Pressed on whether he denied the allegations ‘totally and fully’, Mr Salmond said: ‘I deny that I harassed anyone and I explicitly refute any suggestion of criminality.’
Later, at a press conference in Linlithgow, West Lothian, he refused to answer whether he felt the mistakes he had made included sexual indiscretions. Mr Salmond said: ‘I’m not going to give you a list of the mistakes I think I have made.
‘I’m not going to go into a list of things I did or didn’t do as First Minister, people I did or didn’t speak to. What I can say is that complaints made against me don’t have a foundation and I have never engaged in criminality.’
SNP headquarters yesterday refused to answer questions about whether Mr Salmond could have his party membership suspended while investigations continue.
Last year, the party suspended former minister Mark McDonald after allegations of inappropriate behaviour emerged.
Scottish Labour equalities spokesman Monica Lennon said: ‘Given the serious nature of these allegations, it would be appropriate that the SNP suspends Alex Salmond’s membership of the party with immediate effect.’
But Mr Salmond said: ‘My view on that – it’s not a matter for me – is that it’s now before the Court of Session. The judicial review will be a two or three-month process.
‘I would advise everyone to suspend judgment until the court can make a judgment.’
Mr Salmond has launched a judicial review in the Court of Session because he does not accept the legality of the Scottish Government’s investigation process.
New rules were introduced by the Government to deal with com-
‘I’m no saint. I’ve got flaws’
plaints about ministers and former ministers earlier this year – and were published on its website just two hours after the allegations about Mr Salmond were first revealed.
Under the ‘internal procedure’, a senior civil servant is appointed as investigating officer. The official then collect facts from the member of staff who made the complaint and any witnesses, then prepares a report for the Permanent Secretary.
It is then up to the Permanent Secretary, currently Mrs Evans, to decide whether the report gives ‘cause for concern’.
The former minister involved will also be given details of the report and offered an opportunity to provide a statement with their version of events. The politician can also request that statements are taken from other witnesses.
The original report will be updated with the additional statements and resubmitted to the Permanent Secretary and the complainant. It will then be up to the Permanent Secretary to decide if the complaint is ‘wellfounded’ and decide whether ‘further action is required’.
Mrs Evans confirmed that the internal investigation had been completed, with Mr Salmond notified of the findings on Wednesday.
Yesterday, a Scottish Government spokesman confirmed that there are no other live investigations regarding any current or former ministers.
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