The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Sturgeon says SNP will not suspend Alex Salmond ‘at this time’.
CLAIMS: ‘No legal basis at this time’, says Sturgeon
Alex Salmond is not being suspended by the SNP in the wake of allegations he sexually harassed government workers, Nicola Sturgeon says.
The SNP leader said the party does not have enough information about the complaints to review his membership “at this time”.
Mr Salmond has denied the harassment claims made by two staff members, which date back to when he was in office in 2013.
The party is resending information to all of its members on how to file a grievance and how it will be handled, Ms Sturgeon said last night.
The complaints, lodged in January this year, were investigated by the Scottish Government and have been handed to police.
Ms Sturgeon said her administration cannot share details of the accusations with the SNP. She said her party had not received any complaints.
Responding to calls for Mr Salmond to be suspended by the party, Ms Sturgeon said: “The party has no legal basis at this time to suspend Alex Salmond’s membership.
“Of course, should that situation change, the matter will be reconsidered, as it would be for any member. The party’s rules apply to all members and no one is above them.”
She added: “The SNP is firm in its belief that allegations of harassment must be taken seriously and that anyone who considers that they have been subject to such behaviour must feel able to come forward.”
The Daily Record published details of one of two complaints over the weekend.
It alleges a sexual assault took place in a room in December 2013 in Bute House, the first minister’s official residence.
Mr Salmond has admitted he is “no saint” and had “made many mistakes”.
He said: “But I have not sexually harassed anyone and I certainly have not been engaged in criminality.”
The two-time nationalist leader is taking the SNP government to court over how the complaints were handled.
In a statement, Ms Sturgeon sided with the head of Scotland’s civil service, Leslie Evans, over her former mentor – and expressed frustration at “inaccuracies” emerging from the Salmond camp, saying it was “frustrating” these could not be corrected due to due legal process.
Mr Salmond responded to the statement, saying: “The two most important points from the point of view of both complainers and those complained about are as follows:
“Firstly, confidentiality which is potentially as important for complainers as those complained about. Clearly it has not been maintained in this case but subject to sustained leaking of the most unfair kind.
“Secondly, fairness. To have a just outcome there has to be a fair process. That is important for all.”
Scottish Labour has called on the SNP administration to publish the times and dates of the discussions, minutes of the meetings and if Mr Salmond requested his successor to intervene.