Sex claims against Salmond reported to SNP 10 years ago
CONCERNS about Alex Salmond’s behaviour towards female staff at a Scots airport were raised with the SNP a decade ago.
Accusations about the then first minister were passed to a senior figure in the party – understood to be former Westminster leader Angus Robertson – by management at Edinburgh Airport in late 2008.
They made the approach after being alerted to concerns from workers about the way Mr Salmond acted when being escorted through the airport.
Police Scotland launched an investigation into complaints made by Scottish Government employees about the former politician earlier this year.
On Monday, it emerged that detectives were looking into alleged incidents at Edinburgh Airport.
Current and former members of staff have been interviewed.
Last night, the SNP was under growing pressure to explain who knew about the allegations and what action was taken.
Mr Salmond strongly denies any inappropriate conduct and is said to be unaware of any formal allegations made against him at the time.
It is understood that female members of staff raised concerns about alleged incidents when Mr Salmond was being escorted through the airport. The staff initially raised concerns with Edinburgh Airport management but did not want to make a formal complaint.
Managers at the airport then raised the issue directly with a senior figure in the SNP – reported to be Mr Robertson. It means that the concerns were never the subject of a formal investigation at the time.
Pauline McNeill, equalities spokesman for Scottish Labour, said: ‘This is a shocking revelation. We already know that Nicola Sturgeon continued to meet Alex Salmond while he was being investigated by the Scottish Government over sexual harassment allegations.
‘Now it seems that former SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson was explicitly told about these concerns by officials at Edinburgh Airport.
‘The SNP must urgently explain whether Mr Robertson, one of the most senior SNP politicians, passed these concerns on to party officials and what – if any – action was taken by the SNP in light of those concerns.
‘The SNP has been far from transparent over its handling of these allegations against Alex Salmond – and party officials and Nicola Sturgeon must urgently come clean on who knew what and when.’
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: ‘Since the initial allegations broke, the SNP leadership has claimed to be blissfully unaware of any suggestions of wrongdoing. But the longer this goes on, the less convincing that explanation becomes.
‘We need to see proper transparency from the SNP about who knew what, and what action was taken at the time.’ As first minister, Mr Salmond regularly passed through the airport terminal, including a private security area used by VIPs.
Asked yesterday about airport officials raising the concerns with him in 2008, Mr Robertson said: ‘Given ongoing inquiries, I’m not making any comments at this stage.’
A spokesman for the SNP said: ‘The SNP will not comment on matters relating to Alex Salmond while police inquiries are ongoing.’ Miss Sturgeon has spoken of how she has struggled to come to terms with the allegations made against Mr Salmond by two government employees.
She previously said she first became aware of these complaints when Mr Salmond brought them to her attention in April – three months after the two women lodged their allegations.
She held three meetings with Mr Salmond while the complaints were being investigated but has
‘What, if any, action was taken?’
refused to disclose what was said for ‘legal reasons’.
Asked yesterday if the Scottish Government was made aware of the concerns from Edinburgh Airport staff at the time, a spokesman for Miss Sturgeon said: ‘We are not going to comment. It is an ongoing police investigation.’
Sources close to Mr Salmond say he is not aware of any formal allegations being made about his conduct at the airport.
A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: ‘Mr Salmond denies all suggestions of misconduct at any time and suggests that everyone should allow police inquiries to take their proper course without briefing or breaching their confidentiality.
‘Alex has not been interviewed by the police about any matter.
‘He is content to have his case against the Scottish Government stated in the Court of Session in January.’
After the allegations of complaints by Scottish Government employees emerged in the summer, Mr Salmond said: ‘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.’