Move against official

Former first minister Alex Salmond has made a formal complaint about the conduct of a government official who is alleged to have disclosed the name of one of the complainers against him.

In a dramatic day at the Scottish Parliament, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was quizzed on claims that a government official had leaked the name of the complainant to Geoff Aberdein, who had previously been Mr Salmond’s chief of staff.

Ms Sturgeon said she did not accept that had happened.

Ms Sturgeon did accept the issue was a “matter of contention”.

The first minister added: “Certainly in relation to one of the complainants Alex Salmond was pretty clear he had found out through investigations of Scottish Government social media accounts he had found out who that was.”

The first minister insisted she had seen “nothing that comes within a million miles” of backing up claims that Mr Salmond was the victim of a conspiracy within the SNP.

Speaking about messages sent by various people in the party, she said they showed “people supporting each other, people talking to each other”.

She added: “Some of what has been misrepresented as trying to find or concoct evidence is actually people co-operating with the police at their request.”

A spokesman for Alex Salmond said the former first minister has lodged a formal complaint with the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government under the Civil Service Code.

Firefighters cut free a motorist following a three-car crash on the outskirts of Arbroath yesterday. The incident happened on the A933 Arbroath to Brechin road near its junction with Kirkton Road. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Arbroath and Carnoustie were sent to the scene at 2.10pm. An Audi A1 and Volkswagen Golf were involved in the crash, along with a Citroen hatchback which ended up on its side. The incident happened close to the Journeycall call centre and blocked the road for a time. The extent of injuries sustained by those involved was not known last night.