Team Salmond VERSUS Team Sturgeon
Splits in the SNP widen as supporters of Alex and Nicola line up for the battle that faces the party
SPLITS at the heart of the SNP deepened yesterday as more MSPs publicly backed Alex Salmond’s legal case against the government he used to lead.
Amid further signs of the party dividing, treasurer Colin Beattie defended his decision to donate to the former First Minister’s fundraising campaign, saying the legal case was ‘just about fairness’.
Backbencher John Mason disclosed that he had been considering giving Mr Salmond cash – and spoke openly about party members having to ‘pick a side’.
Nicola Sturgeon made a passionate plea to MSPs and MPs, who were meeting for the first time since the explosive sexual misconduct allegations emerged, telling them their response will ‘say a lot about who we are as a party’.
She appeared directly to challenge those backing Mr Salmond’s crowdfunding campaign by telling them to ‘make sure we are not making it harder for people to come forward in the future’.
More than a week ago, it emerged two women came forward in January to report allegations dating back to 2013.
The Daily Record says it has seen the wording of one of the complaints, made by a Scottish Government staff member.
She alleges the former First Minister touched her bottom and breasts through her clothing while she was alone with him at Bute House, the paper has reported.
Mr Salmond has launched a judicial review in the Court of Session as he does not accept the legality of the Government’s investigation process.
Yesterday, the Scottish Daily Mail spoke to dozens of SNP politicians as they attended an ‘away day’ in Edinburgh.
Midlothian North and Musselburgh MSP Mr Beattie, who donated £20 to Mr Salmond’s campaign, said: ‘It’s just about fairness, that’s all.’
Asked if he had concerns about the Scottish Government’s investigation, he said: ‘We will let the judicial review determine that.’
Glasgow Shettleston MSP Mr Mason said Mr Salmond has ‘to raise the money somehow’. Questioned on whether any MSP or MP should support the campaign, he said: ‘It’s up to them, I was thinking about it but I think probably I’ll stay neutral at the moment because I’ve got kind of links with both sides, obviously, so I think I’ll not be contributing.’
Although he said he did not think the SNP was in the midst of a civil war, he added: ‘I don’t think we know enough of the facts so I don’t think you can pick a side, really, at the moment.’
He said ‘the whole legal system in this country is too slow’ and appeared to reject Miss Sturgeon’s fears that the maelstrom could put women off coming forward with allegations.
He added: ‘We’re trying to get a balance. We’re trying to protect victims on the one hand and we are also trying to protect people from being falsely accused, as I think Cliff Richard was.’
Glasgow Kelvin MSP Sandra White refused to condemn those donating to Mr Salmond, saying it is a ‘free country’. Kilmarnock and Loudoun MSP Willie Coffey, said the courts should ‘give justice to everybody’.
But a string of party heavyweights backed Miss Sturgeon.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the crowdfunding was ‘a matter for Alex Salmond’, but added: ‘I think the First Minister has set out exactly how this matter has to be handled and the care that is required.’
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: ‘I agree with everything the First Minister has said – there is a process to be gone through. It is important that women can come forward and there is a process we are currently going through. There is also a judicial review. I think we should leave it at that.’
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: ‘The First Minister has made it very clear women are to be encouraged to come forward, regardless of who is involved.’
Directly addressing the party splits for the first time yesterday, Miss Sturgeon told colleagues: ‘How we deal with this, how we are seen to respond to this, will say a lot about who we are as a party and about the country we are today and want to build for the future.
‘I believe in a Scotland where there is equality before the law; where there’s not one rule for the powerful and another rule for everyone else; and where all parties get fair and due process.
‘Let’s not forget that at the heart of this, amidst all the focus on process, politics and personalities, there are two people who have brought complaints, which cannot have been at all easy to do.
‘I want to be not just the First Minister but also a citizen of a country where people feel that they can come forward and know that their complaints will be taken seriously.’ Scottish Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: ‘The Scottish people deserve a government focused on governing the country, not infighting and independence.’
‘I don’t think you can pick a side’ ‘I believe in equality before the law’