The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Sturgeon issues warning over harassment claims
First minister says victims should not be discouraged from coming forward
Nicola Sturgeon has warned public figures not to discourage victims of sexual harassment from coming forward amid the Alex Salmond storm.
The first minister spoke out as open battle lines were drawn in the SNP, with the legal dispute between Mr Salmond and her government threatening to plunge the party into civil war.
The former SNP leader is taking the Scottish Government to court over the way it handled two complaints of sexual harassment made against him.
His crowdfunding plea to help fund the judicial review has drawn more than £83,000 in pledges, including donations from party members and what appeared to be SNP MSP and party treasurer Colin Beattie.
Ian Blackford, the nationalist leader in Westminster, gave his “absolutely full support to the government” and the first minister.
Ms Sturgeon, who has directed her supporters to an alternative crowdfunding appeal, called for a culture where victims are not put off coming forward with complaints no matter who the alleged perpetrator is.
“Whatever any of us do and say in the context of this very high-profile case, we must absolutely make sure we don’t make it harder for or discourage women from coming forward in the future,” she told the BBC.
Mr Salmond quit the SNP on Wednesday night claiming it would prevent the party splitting. Moments earlier he launched a Crowdfunder appeal asking supporters to help him sue the SNP government.
An account in the name of Mr Beattie, from Forfar, donated £20, leaving the comment: “Fairness and transparency”.
Neither Mr Beattie nor the SNP responded to a request for comment.
It emerged last week that two women have made harassment complaints about the former FM. Mr Salmond has repeatedly denied sexually harassing anybody.
The allegations, which relate to Mr Salmond’s time as FM in 2013, have been investigated by the Scottish Government and the details handed to police, who say they are assessing the information.
Mr Blackford insisted the party is
“pretty united”.
“I am not getting messages from people suggesting that there is civil war within the SNP, far from it,” he told a Scottish Parliament Journalists Association event yesterday.