POLICE are investigating a fresh allegation of sexual assault against Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland.
A woman reported the alleged incident, said to be “non-recent”, to Police Scotland, shortly after Mr Salmond died, aged 69, last month, while attending a conference in North Macedonia.
3
3
3
It has also emerged that up to six women approached the SNP more than two years ago, to lodge complaints about Mr Salmond’s behaviour.
The complaints, said to be of a sexual nature, are believed to have been reported to Ian McCann, the party’s compliance officer, who was responsible for disciplinary issues.
They were said to have been brought to the attention of the SNP’s then-chief executive, Peter Murrell, but were not taken any further.
The SNP is bracing itself for the possibility of more women coming forward, claiming to have been victims of the former party leader’s unwanted sexual advances.
Mr Salmond’s alleged inappropriate behaviour with women is claimed to date back almost 40 years, and to have been well known among leadership figures and aides, according to a senior party insider.
It is claimed those closest to the leader often warned young female MSPs and MPs, party workers and civil servants not to allow themselves to be left alone with him.
The insider said: “Around two years ago five or six complaints of inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature were reported to the party and went as far as Peter Murrell.
“The allegations date as far back as the 1980s, including in Alex’s Banff and Buchan constituency. They were generally interpreted as bring of a ‘less serious nature’, which may be why it was decided not to report them to the police.
“Because Alex was no longer a party member, or an employee of the party – and therefore no longer subject to its disciplinary procedures – it was felt that there was nowhere for an internal investigation to go.”
Mr Salmond walked free from Edinburgh’s High Court in March 2020, after being cleared of 14 counts of sexual assault and attempted rape.
At the time of his death, he was in the midst of suing the Scottish Government for its botched handling of complaints against him. The Scottish Government had pledged to vigorously contest the legal action.
A source close to the party said that, shortly before the trial, a complaint was made by a female MP who claimed that Mr Salmond groped her while they were posing for a photoshoot.
The source said: “She was shocked, traumatised, and angry but she didn’t go to the police because she didn’t want to do anything that might prejudice the trial.
“She believed she would get justice, indirectly, through the trial but the jury saw things differently.”
Another source said: “I can’t begin to describe the shock and bewilderment inside the party when Alex was cleared of all charges.
“While no-one could argue with the verdict – he was judged and cleared by a jury of his peers – it arguably acted as a break on anyone else coming forward with fresh allegations, until now.
“Alex was a powerful and litigious figure and there’s a belief within the party that some women might not have come forward because they were scared of challenging him and the political establishment surrounding him.”
The trial irrevocably fractured Mr Salmond’s relationship with Nicola Sturgeon, his former protégé, successor, and closest ally.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have received a report of a non-recent sexual assault. The information is being assessed.”
An SNP spokesperson said: “SNP disciplinary processes can only be invoked against current SNP members.”
Mr Salmond’s solicitor was approached for comment.
