Alex Salmond formally starts legal action over investigation

Alex Salmond has formally started his legal action against the Scottish Government over its handling of sexual harassment allegations made against him.

Two complaints were raised in January against the former first minister, who strongly denies the allegations. He was informed of an investigation in March.

Mr Salmond is taking court action against the Scottish Government to contest the complaints process activated against him. His petition for a judicial review has now been lodged at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, court officials confirmed yesterday.

Mr Salmond wrote to Scottish permanent secretary Leslie Evans on Monday.

The former first minister said someone within the government had “flagrantly and repeatedly” breached the confidential complaints process by leaking details to a national newspaper.

The government previously said its investigation had been “entirely confidential throughout”.