MP calls for SNP resignations as plot claim made

Former justice secretary backs Salmond and condemns ‘breach of trust’

An SNP MP and former justice secretary has called for members of his own party to resign following Alex Salmond’s acquittal for sexual assault and attempted rape.

Kenny MacAskill, the man responsible for the early release of convicted Lockerbie terrorist Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi on compassionate grounds, said he firmly believed there were “political” motivations behind the allegations made against Mr Salmond.

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

A jury of 13 found Mr Salmond not guilty of 12 charges and not proven of another following a two-week trial, acquitting him of all on Monday.

Writing in The Scotsman, Mr MacAskill said: “There do need to be resignations within the SNP. A few have acted despicably and many of us feel a breach of trust.

“They cannot remain and a few others now face question marks over why they are in the positions they hold, as it certainly hasn’t been on ability.

“They should go quietly under the cover of coronavirus.

“For others too there must be a reckoning. The taxpayer picked up a tab amounting to more than £500,000 in a civil case that was described by the High Court Judge as tainted with bias.

“That’ll be a small fraction to the costs of a criminal investigation.”

Meanwhile, Scotland’s information commissioner has confirmed there was no evidence Scottish Government staff had leaked details about a misconduct probe into Mr Salmond.

A complaint had been lodged to the Information Commissioner’s Office by Mr Salmond after the Daily Record reported the government had investigated allegations against him when he was first minister.

Following an investigation, an ICO spokesperson said: “After conducting thorough inquiries with the Scottish Government, the ICO found no evidence that a third party or an employee from the Scottish Government unlawfully obtained or disclosed personal data relating to Mr Alex Salmond.

“We also found no evidence that Mr Salmond’s personal data was processed unfairly.

“However, during the course of our investigation, we identified some concerns in relation to the Scottish Government’s data protection practices, and we have given them recommendations to improve their compliance with data protection law.”

The Scottish Government has “noted” the ICO findings.

Picture: PA. Former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill.