Conspiracy to bring down Salmond a ‘heap of nonsense’

Nicola Sturgeon has rubbished claims there was a conspiracy to bring down Alex Salmond as a “heap of nonsense”.

The first minister told BBC’S Newsnight programme she did not believe there had been a plot against her former mentor.

Nine women from within the Scottish Government and the SNP gave evidence to the High Court in Edinburgh in March alleging Mr Salmond had sexually assaulted them.

A jury of 13 found the former first minister not guilty of 12 charges and not proven of another following a two-week trial, acquitting him of all accusations.

Former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars previously claimed to have seen “compelling evidence” of a political plot within the party targeting Salmond.

But asked about the claims, Ms Sturgeon said: “There was no conspiracy. It’s a heap of nonsense.”

“In the fullness of time I will get the opportunity to elaborate on that view.”

The first minister insisted she had not had time to reflect on the court verdict because she was too busy dealing with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

But she said her role in a government harassment investigation into Mr Salmond would be scrutinised in a forthcoming parliamentary inquiry.

Its focus is the government’s handling of two complaints of sexual misconduct made against Mr Salmond in 2018 by civil servants.

Mr Salmond later won a judicial review after the government admitted the probe was unfair and “tainted by apparent bias”.

A separate investigation into whether Ms Sturgeon broke the ministerial code over the matter has also been restarted.