Salmond hearing date is set

ALEX Salmond’s legal challenge against the Scottish Government’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations made against him will take place next year.

The former First Minister’s judicial review at the Court of Session will begin on January 15 and the hearing is expected to last for four days.

Mr Salmond is facing two allegations relating to his time as First Minister, which are also the subject of a separate Police Scotland investigation.

He is challenging the Government’s investigation into the claims. Yesterday we told how Mr Salmond will argue that ministers should not have launched a new probe in January this year as he claims the complaint was dealt with in 2013. Mr Salmond apologised to the woman for any misunderstanding at the time and this was accepted.

The allegations were dealt with informally, the first stage of the Government’s then Fairness at Work policy used to investigate complaints about ministers.

On Saturday, we revealed that one of the female staff members who accused Salmond first lodged a complaint nearly five years ago. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Mr Salmond’s deputy at the time, insists she had no knowledge of the accusation.

The Government confirmed in August it had concluded an investigation into two complaints about Mr Salmond during his time as First Minister.

Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans was due to publish details of the findings but Mr Salmond then launched his legal challenge, which has limited what she can say about the complaints.

The Government has said it will ‘vigorously’ defend itself in court. Yesterday, Miss Sturgeon refused to answer questions on the case. Initially, the SNP leader walked away from reporters before saying they could ask her just one question.

However, at the mention of Mr Salmond’s name she fled into a stairwell at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.