Salmond allegations must be investigated

RARELY can a politician have spoken truer words than when Nicola Sturgeon said of the Alex Salmond affair: ‘This cannot be swept under the carpet.’

The allegations that Mr Salmond sexually harassed two staff members while he was first minister and in his official residence at Bute House are both deeply unedifying and political dynamite.

Yet for all the heat and light around the claims – hotly denied by Mr Salmond – we are only in the foothills of this drama.

The allegations must, of course, be properly investigated. Should the police decide to take things further, their criminal investigation would take precedence.

The complainers have every right to have their allegations rigorously investigated.

Part of this process will be Mr Salmond taking his complaint that the initial Scottish Government investigation was improperly handled to the Supreme Court where, he has confirmed, he will abide by whatever decision is taken.

Though the prospect of a former first minister and SNP leader going to law against the present SNP-led Scottish Government is unprecedented, the move is entirely legitimate.

No matter your view of their politics, Mr Salmond has a reputation to defend and Miss Sturgeon a government to run, so a legal showdown seems inevitable.

The public have rights here, too, of course. They watched the shambles that ensued as the SNP tried to probe sex-pest allegations against former childcare minister Mark McDonald.

He was suspended during the investigation and ultimately dispatched to Coventry and an office located by toilets in Holyrood.

Surely it cannot be one rule for some and another for former first ministers?

And it is essential to remember that this story came to light because of the diligence of the Press, so often the target of baseless attacks from the wilder fringes of social media, especially of a Nationalist bent.

This is an era when Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn can promote state controls on the media and pretend they are about protecting a free Press.

The Salmond affair is a salutary reminder that journalists are still shining lights into dark corners where stories such as this are hidden.