Sturgeon denies lies over Salmond
Scottish leader fights for her political life
NICOLA Sturgeon today denied telling lies over the Alex Salmond sexual harassment allegations as she fought for her political life in an emotional appearance before Scottish parliamentarians.
The Scottish leader said although “it might well be that I didn’t get everything right” she had acted “properly and appropriately” and made the “best judgements” she could when dealing with the claims made by women against her former political ally.
She added that she also wanted to “rebut the absurd allegation that anyone acted with malice or as part of a plot against Alex Salmond” and that the truth was instead that she had tried to ensure that his alleged victims’ complaints were treated seriously.
Ms Sturgeon’s comments came during an appearance before a Scottish parliamentary committee following calls for her to resign over claims that she gave false information about when she first learnt of the allegations against Mr Salmond.
She has also been accused of wasting taxpayers’ money by contesting a judicial review connected to the claims despite legal advice that her government’s case was destined to fail and is facing a vote of no confidence in the Scottish parliament. Today, however, Ms Sturgeon defended her conduct, saying that she was “relieved” to be facing today’s committee.
Mr Salmond was acquitted of 13 charges of sexual misconduct at Edinburgh’s High Court and has since turned on Ms Sturgeon, his former deputy, by accusing her of giving false information about what she was told at a meeting on March 29, 2018.
He claims that Ms Sturgeon, who told the Scottish parliament that she only found out about the claims against Mr Salmond days later on April 2 the same year, was in fact told about them by his chief of staff Geoff Aberdein at the earlier meeting.
But she denied this in her testimony today, saying that her “recollection is different”.