Salmond hits out over sex claims as pressure mounts on SNP leader.

Call for action as former first minister investigated over sex harassment claims

Nicola Sturgeon came under pressure to suspend Alex Salmond from the SNP yesterday as police confirmed they are investigating claims he sexually harassed two women.

Mr Salmond denied any wrongdoing after it emerged the complaints against him were raised in January. He was notified in March about the civil service investigation, which related to his time in office. The EX-SNP leader, who stepped down after the 2014 independence referendum, described the allegations as “patently ridiculous”.

“I’m no saint,” he said. “I’ve made mistakes politically, I’ve made mistakes personally. But I refute the complaints made against me and I absolutely deny any semblance of criminality.”

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Salmond would not be drawn on the details of the complaints, or on whether he was aware of any others against him.

Pressed on whether concerns over his conduct had been raised during his time in office, he said: “I’m not going to go into a list of things I did or didn’t do when I was first minister, who I did or didn’t speak to. What I can say is the complaints made against me don’t have a foundation and I have never engaged in criminality.”

He added his wife Moira was supporting him.

Earlier, Ms Sturgeon said the complaints cannot be “swept under the carpet” despite the difficulties they created for herself and the SNP. She said her relationship with her predecessor “makes this an extremely difficult situation for me to come to terms with”.

She said: “This will be extremely upsetting to members of the SNP up and down the country. It’s a difficult situation but what is important is that complaints are treated seriously, regardless of who the person complained about is.”

Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “Given the serious nature of these allegations, it would be appropriate that the SNP suspends Alex Salmond’s membership of the party with immediate effect.”

Asked by the BBC if Mr Salmond is still a member of the SNP, Ms Sturgeon replied: “These matters will be considered in the fullness of time.”

The SNP press office did not respond to questions on the subject.

Mr Salmond confirmed he had met Ms Sturgeon three times since being informed of the allegations. Asked if he suggested to her the investigation be dropped, he said: “I’m not going to say what the private conversation between myself and Nicola Sturgeon was, but Nicola wasn’t part of the process.”

The Scottish Government said Ms Sturgeon heard about the investigation from Mr Salmond in April and later told the permanent secretary that she knew about it but would not intervene.

Sports Minister Joe Fitzpatrick, who served as government business manager under Mr Salmond, said he only became aware of the allegations on Thursday night.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We are carrying out an assessment of information which we have received and inquiries are at an early stage.”

A spokesman for RT, the Russian state controlled broadcaster, confirmed The Alex Salmond Show programme would continue to air on the station.

will be extremely upsetting to members of the SNP up and down the country. NICOLA STURGEON

Picture: PA. Alex Salmond described the allegations against him as “patently ridiculous”.