Who knew? Alex Salmond apologised after claim he sexually harassed a colleague was first investigated... five years ago
Opponents ask when the First Minister first heard
The official investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Alex Salmond came under renewed scrutiny yesterday after it emerged the claims were first probed five years ago.
Nicola Sturgeon faced calls to explain why the Scottish Government had suggested there had been no previous complaints about Mr Salmond and when she knew about his alleged misconduct.
Yesterday, it emerged a complaint made by a female colleague about Mr Salmond’s behaviour was investigated by the Scottish Government in 2013 and apparently resolved after he apologised.
However, another investigation into the same incident, which allegedly took place inside the First Minister’s official residence at Bute House, was launched by senior civil servants in January after fresh complaints.
The Scottish Government refused to say whether Ms Sturgeon knew about the 2013 investigation at the time but, in a statement, said nobody had complained to her.
The statement read: “The Scottish Government received two complaints in January in relation to Alex Salmond. These could not be ignored or swept under the carpet. No complaints were raised with the then Deputy First Minister about Alex Salmond under the previous process and, as we have said, the first the First Minister became aware of the fact of an investigation was from Alex Salmond in April 2018.
“We are confident our processes are legally sound and we will vigorously defend our position.”
A Scottish Government spokesman did not deny there had been an investigation in 2013 but continued to insist there were “no recorded complaints” about Mr Salmond before January. However,
a source close to the former First Minister said that was untrue, adding: “Unless they are using a definition of recorded complaint that other people who speak English don’t use, they are completely wrong.
“I don’t know how they can stand by this statement.” Opposition politicians called for the government to reveal more details.
Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said: “This is a serious revelation. Smoke and mirrors from the SNP Government at this stage will only convince people they have something to hide. It is essential the public is now given a clear timeline of events that have led to this point.”
Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Annie Wells MSP added: “There are fair questions over who else in the Scottish Government knew about this.”
According to reports yesterday, the original complainant accepted an apology in 2013 after Mr Salmond described the incident as a “misunderstanding”. There was no further action.
It remains unclear why senior civil servants launched a second investigation in January. The complaint has now been passed to police, who are investigating.
Mr Salmond has asked for a judicial review at the Court of Session to challenge how the complaints have been investigated, claiming the process was unfair. The first court appearance is expected to be in November. However, it remains unclear why, when the new investigations emerged, Mr Salmond claimed that he had not been allowed to see the evidence against him, when he had already apologised over one of the complaints.
A spokesman for Alex Salmond said: “We have no comment to make because our Petition for Judicial Review against the Permanent Secretary is now before the Court of Session.”
The first I have been aware is in the context of the two complaints we are talking about. I have had no prior knowledge of complaints
having been made Nicola Sturgeon
in August
No complaints were raised with the then Deputy First Minister about Alex Salmond under the previous process Scottish Government
yesterday