‘Full transparency’ plea on Salmond complaints

ALLEGATIONS: Tories want details of any discussions involving Sturgeon

The Scottish Government must be more open about its sexual harassment investigation into Alex Salmond, say opposition parties.

Nicola Sturgeon’s administration has been urged to reveal if the government was aware of the complaints before January, and to release details of discussions concerning the allegations reportedly held between the first minister and her predecessor.

Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon insists the two-time SNP leader, who remains a member of the party, has not been given special treatment.

Writing to permanent secretary Leslie Evans, Tory MSP Annie Wells said: “There is a clear public interest in getting a definitive answer as to whether any complaints against the former first minister were made in this period (before January) and whether any Scottish Government officials or ministers were informed about them.”

She added: “The Scottish Government should instigate an independent review in order to find out the answer.

“This would show the Scottish Government was being fully transparent about its knowledge of any complaints of alleged misconduct.”

Labour has tabled a series of freedom of information requests seeking more detail of three meetings Mr Salmond said had taken place between himself and his protégé Ms Sturgeon after he was informed of the allegations.

It was revealed last week that two sexual harassment complaints had been made against Mr Salmond at the start of the year. They have been passed to the police following a Scottish Government investigation led by Ms Evans.

Mr Salmond says he is taking the SNP government to court over its handling of the complaints.

The former FM denies sexually harassing anybody. He has admitted making mistakes in his personal and political life, saying he is “no saint”.

The Scottish Government said there have been no complaints about current or former ministers since its new harassment policy came into force in December, other than the two made against Mr Salmond.

Earlier, a Scots QC backed the Scottish Government’s “sensible” policy for dealing with harassment complaints.

Jonathan Mitchell, who represented the petitioners in the Alistair Carmichael “Nikileaks” case, criticised those who were peddling “speculation and conspiracy theories” about the complaints process.

“Harassment complaints deserve to be taken seriously on their own merits, under a clear policy, not on speculation and conspiracy theories as to their political effect,” he tweeted.

Ms Sturgeon said details of the Scottish Government investigation cannot be shared with the party, so there is “no legal basis” to expel Mr Salmond.

“In some other cases, there have been investigations carried out by the SNP, into complaints made to the SNP,” she told STV. In these cases, the SNP would have had all the information about what lay behind the complaints.

“This is not an SNP investigation – the SNP has had no complaints directly about Alex Salmond.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “There are no recorded complaints about Alex Salmond prior to January 2018.

“For legal reasons we are unable to provide further detail at this time.

“However, in the fullness of time the Scottish Government will seek to make available as much information as it can.”

Picture: PA. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon meets representatives from Taste of Arran at the Auchrannie spa resort in Brodick, on the Isle of Arran, for the launch of a food and drink tourism action plan.

Picture: PA. Alex Salmond: Accused of sexual harassment.