Ex-Scottish first minister Alex Salmond faces more ‘sex pest’ claims – and one dates back FIVE years
The Scottish Government was urged to reveal who knew what and when after it emerged the former First Minister apologised to a female member of staff following an incident at Bute House in 2013
SCOTTISH MINISTERS are facing growing pressure over the Alex Salmond affair after claims one of the two complaints was first dealt with five years ago.
The Scottish Government was urged to reveal who knew what and when after it emerged the former First Minister apologised to a female member of staff following an incident at Bute House in 2013.
That claim, and another, have been re-examined and passed to police following a new review by top civil servant Leslie Evans.
Yesterday opposition parties demanded answers over the 2013 investigation.
Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said: “This is a serious revelation.
“It now appears a complaint was made against Alex Salmond in 2013. If that is true, it contradicts what the public has previously been told about when issues around Mr Salmond’s conduct were first raised, and who dealt with them.
“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 lead to this point, including who knew what - and when.”
Tory equalities spokeswoman Annie Wells MSP added: “First and foremost, we must respect the women who complained and allow due and fair process to continue.
“The over-riding issue is to respect their anonymity.”
“Within those constraints, there are fair questions over who else in the Scottish Government knew about this, and whether anyone in the SNP was informed still remain, and they need to be answered.”
reported that “several” other complaints against him have been lodged with the SNP in recent weeks and passed to an independent lawyer for investigation.
Police initially got details from the Government around August 21 following a civil service probe into alleged misconduct by Mr Salmond, 63, towards two women while he was First Minister from 2007 to 2014.
Officers have now launched an inquiry following an initial assessment.
Mr Salmond, who strongly denies the allegations, has launched a legal challenge to the Scottish Government’s investigation, which he believes was “unlawful”.
A spokesman for the former Nat leader has pointed to Mr Salmond’s previous response to the claims, when he said: “I refute these complaints of harassment and I absolutely reject any suggestion of criminality”.
Asked about the 2013 investigation, the spokesman added: “We have no comment to make because our Petition for Judicial Review against the Permanent Secretary is now before the Court of Session and we expect it to be called shortly.
"Alex is completely content that we do all our talking in court.”
And a source close to Mr Salmond said: “This is expected to be a key argument in the judicial review.
"This complaint was dealt with five years ago, yet it came back again this year after the new complaints policy was brought in.”
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However the Scottish Government insist no complaints were received before January.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "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.
"In the fullness of time the Scottish Government will seek to make available as much information as it can.
"However, as we have said previously, for legal reasons we can make no further comment on the issues relating to Mr Salmond at this time."
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