The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
How allegations of harassment led to turmoil in Scottish politics
The turmoil unleashed by the Scottish Government’s handling of complaints about Alex Salmond dates back years.
Decisions taken by officials behind closed doors in 2017 set off a chain of events that led to the independent probe on whether First Minister Nicola Sturgeon broke the ministerial code of conduct.
October 31 2017: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon orders a review of the Scottish Government’s “policies and processes for addressing inappropriate conduct”.
January 2018: Allegations about Alex Salmond’s conduct are sent to the Scottish Government by two women.
March 2018: Mr Salmond is told about the probe.
April 2018: Mr Salmond meets Ms Sturgeon at her home in Glasgow on the 2nd. The pair talk on the phone on the 23rd.
June 2018:
Mr Salmond and
Ms Sturgeon meet twice – on the 7th in Aberdeen during the SNP conference and on the 14th at the first minister’s home in Glasgow.
August 23 2018: News breaks of the Scottish Government’s sexual harassment investigation. Mr Salmond immediately denies misconduct and launches a judicial review of the process.
September 14 2018: Police confirm a separate investigation has begun. October 31 2018: Government legal counsel Roddy Dunlop QC advises Mr
Salmond will probably win but ministers push on. January 8 2019: The government concedes the case.
March 23 2020: Mr Salmond is acquitted of all charges. February 26: Mr Salmond appears at the inquiry and tells MSPS Scotland’s leadership has failed.
March 3: Nicola Sturgeon appears at the inquiry, rejecting Mr Salmond’s claims and standing by her version of events about who said what and when.
March 22: Hamilton inquiry report is published.