Salmond ‘touched the breasts of staff member’

ALEX SALMOND, the former first minister of Scotland, has been accused of touching a woman’s bottom and breasts in the first reported details of a sexual harassment allegation.

The Daily Record, a Scottish newspaper, claims to have seen the wording of a detailed complaint made by a former Scottish Government female staff member.

The woman was said to have told investigators that the confrontation took place in the First Minister’s grace-andfavour residence, Bute House, Edinburgh, in December 2013.

Outlining her allegations, she said she was alone with Mr Salmond following an official engagement during which he had been drinking. Mr Salmond is accused of telling her to move from one of the public rooms to his bedchamber, where he repeatedly offered her a drink, which she rejected.

He was said to have touched her breasts and bottom.

The woman alleged that Mr Salmond only stopped when she repeatedly asked him to. She claims there were multiple instances of harassment and conduct of an unwanted sexual nature during the politician’s time in office.

The Scottish newspaper said the allegations, and those of a second individual, have been passed to police.

Mr Salmond vehemently denies the allegations and insists that he has never sexually harassed anyone.

He insists the claims are “patently ridiculous” and is taking the Scottish Government to court to contest the complaints process against him.

“I have made many mistakes in my life, political and personal, but I have not sexually harassed anyone and I certainly have not been engaged in criminality,” he said.

In a tweet yesterday, he reaffirmed his denial of both impropriety and criminality – but said he could make no further comment until his petition for a judicial review was heard.

Last night Scottish Labour issued a fresh call for the SNP to suspend Mr Salmond, claiming that Nicola Sturgeon had been too slow to act over the allegations. Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said: “Not to do so will send the wrong message to members in her party and the people of Scotland.”