The conundrum at the heart of support for Alex Salmond's Alba party - Gina Davidson

There is a conundrum at the heart of support for Alex Salmond's new party which would probably make the basis of a great psychology study.

Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond pictured at the weekend

Here is a man who has been cleared of criminal behaviour in court; 13 allegations by nine women which ranged from serious sexual assault to what some would consider more minor sexual harassment, were ultimately not found to reach the criminal threshold and he was found not guilty in all but one, where the jury ruled not proven.

At the same time here is a former first minister who had to apologise to one woman for his inappropriate behaviour, who said he believed some of what took place between him and two of the women was “consensual” but also admitted that he should have “been more careful with peoples’ personal space”. The QC representing him in court said he should have been a “better man”. His words out of court, during a train conversation, were stronger.

All of the above are facts. They are not smears, or conspiracy theories. Indeed the one conspiracy theory which was Mr Salmond’s – that Nicola Sturgeon introduced an internal civil service human resources policy on historical sexual harassment which was written to specifically target him, and when it didn’t work, a criminal case was “concocted” to ensure he was removed from public life – was found to have no substance by a Holyrood committee investigation.

Mr Salmond has since moved from pointing the finger at Nicola Sturgeon to Leslie Evans and other civil servants, and is still intent on pursuing legal action against the government. Yet at the same time he is urging people to vote for Ms Sturgeon’s party – his old party – in the May election, in the constituency seats, while urging them to choose his Alba party on the list.

Psychodrama is the word Anas Sarwar has used in describing the twists and turns of the Salmond-Sturgeon relationship. He’s right, but there’s another psychological element to the whole scenario, and that is the support Mr Salmond appears to have from pro-independence women.

Women, who had been fighting tooth and nail within the SNP for women’s rights, who went so far as to design an SNP Women’s Pledge such was their worry about their party’s policy on self-identification for transgender people, who said they were refusing to “wheesht for indy”, have jumped ship and are now members, indeed some are candidates, for Alba.

It is easy to understand their frustrations with the SNP, why some of them campaigned – ultimately successfully – to be elected to its national executive committee in the hope of changing party policy. It’s also easy to understand why they were angry with Nicola Sturgeon who they felt had left them unsupported.

But to throw in their lot with Alex Salmond a man who will forever now be known for his “sleepy cuddles” is not so easily explained. Nor is abandoning the SNP women who were looking to them for internal change.

In just the week since Alba was launched Mr Salmond has been asked at every public turn about the sexual harassment allegations made against him, and he has ducked a direct answer – pointing to the trial result, the inquiries, and even to the women who have joined him as if they prove he’s a good guy.

They are now his shield. They will need to be made of tough stuff.