A SHATTERING BLOW FOR NICOLA STURGEON
First Minister forced to deal with claims against her former mentor
AN emotional Nicola Sturgeon yesterday insisted that allegations of sexual misconduct against Alex Salmond cannot be ‘swept under the carpet’.
In an unprecedented intervention, the First Minister admitted that her close relationship with her predecessor makes the accusations levelled against him ‘extremely difficult’ to come to terms with.
But she said the complaints would be dealt with ‘without fear or favour’ despite his ‘seniority’ and ‘political allegiance’.
She also said the Scottish Government would ‘vigorously’ defend court action by Mr Salmond against the legality of the Scottish Government’s investigation.
Appearing shaken yesterday, she confessed that the allegations ‘will be extremely upsetting to members of the SNP up and down the country’ but said investigations into allegations of harassment and misconduct ‘cannot be applied selectively’.
Later, she issued a statement in which she admitted she had known about the allegations ‘for some time’.
She said: ‘These complaints have been considered since then under a procedure covering ministers and former ministers that was agreed by me in December 2017 in the wake of public concern about harassment.
‘Although I have been aware for some time of the fact of the investigation – initially from Alex Salmond – I have had no role in the process, and to have referred to it before now would have compromised the integrity of the internal investigation, which I was not prepared to do.
‘However, I was informed by the Permanent Secretary earlier this week that she had completed her investigation and that she intended to make the fact of the complaints public.’
Miss Sturgeon has enjoyed a close relationship with Alex Salmond since the pair were elected leader and deputy leader of the SNP in 2004.
She served as both Health Secretary and Infrastructure, Investment and Cities Secretary in Mr Salmond’s Cabinet, before being placed in charge of the SNP’s campaign during the independence referendum.
When independence was rejected by 55 per cent of the Scottish electorate, Mr Salmond announced his resignation as First Minister and leader of the SNP.
Miss Sturgeon immediately announced that she would be a candidate in the election to replace him, and was appointed as Mr Salmond’s successor unopposed two months later.
Despite their close working relationship at Holyrood, the pair have clashed since Miss Sturgeon became First Minister.
Last year, Mr Salmond criticised Miss Sturgeon over how former Nationalist MP Michelle Thomson was treated, saying she had been denied ‘natural justice’ by the party during a police inquiry into mortgage fraud allegations.
He added she should be readmitted to the SNP and allowed to stand for election again.
His remarks, made during one of his one-man shows at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, came just weeks after Miss Thomson was told she would not face court proceedings over alleged irregularities relating to the property transactions. The former Edinburgh West MP resigned the SNP whip and was suspended only five months after being elected in 2015.
And last November, the First Minister said she would have advised Mr Salmond against hosting a television show on the Kremlin-backed Russian broadcaster RT.
Miss Sturgeon and the SNP distanced themselves from Mr Salmond’s controversial decision to host his own chat show on the channel, which has been described by critics as a propaganda outlet for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At the time, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘I am sure Alex’s show will make interesting viewing – however, his choice of channel would not have been my choice.’
She went on to say: ‘Of course, Alex is not currently an elected politician and is free to do as he wishes – but had I been asked, I would have advised against RT and suggested he seek a different channel to air what I am sure will be an entertaining show.’