Alex Salmond inquiry: Former first minister claims 'Scotland's leadership has failed' and describes past three years as 'nightmare'

Alex Salmond has described the past three years of his life as a “nightmare” as he began his long-awaited oral evidence session to the Holyrood committee investigating the Scottish Government’s botched handling of sexual harassment allegations made against him.

The former first minister, who has previously refused to appear in front of the committee as a result of a row over what evidence he would be able to give without committing contempt of court, said he had made no public statements since the end of his criminal trial last March when he was acquitted of all charges, “but today that changes”.

He also said there was a failure of leadership in Scotland and attacked Nicola Sturgeon, claiming there has been a "calculated and deliberate suppression of key evidence" to the committee.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, when asked by a committee member if he wished to apologise to the two women who made the complaints against him under the government’s policy on sexual harassment – which was broadened in 2017 to allow complaints against former ministers – Mr Salmond said “over the last three years, there have been two court cases, two judges and a jury, and I'm resting on the proceedings of these cases”.

Making an opening statement to the committee, which is chaired by SNP MSP Linda Fabiani, Mr Salmond said it was not his actions which were being scrutinised, but those of the government.

“Three important points require to be made at the outset – this inquiry is not about me. I’ve already established the illegality of the actions of the Scottish Government in the Court of Session and been acquitted of all criminal charges by a jury in the highest court in the land,” he said.

Read More
Alex Salmond Inquiry LIVE: Updates as Former First Minister arrives to give evid...

“The remit of this inquiry is about the actions of others, the investigation into the conduct of ministers, the permanent secretary, civil servants and special advisers.

Former first minister Alex Salmond makes his opening statement as he attends the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints examining the government's handling of harassment allegations against him. Picture: Andy Buchanan - Pool/Getty ImagesFormer first minister Alex Salmond makes his opening statement as he attends the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints examining the government's handling of harassment allegations against him. Picture: Andy Buchanan - Pool/Getty Images
Former first minister Alex Salmond makes his opening statement as he attends the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints examining the government's handling of harassment allegations against him. Picture: Andy Buchanan - Pool/Getty Images

"It also requires to shine a light on the Crown Office and to examine the unacceptable conduct of those who appear to have no understanding on the importance of separation of party, government, prosecution authorities and indeed of the rule of law itself.”

He added: “It was the government which were found to have acted unlawfully, unfairly and tainted by apparent bias.

"I know the First Minister asserts I have to prove a case – I don’t. That’s already been done.

"In this inquiry, it’s the Scottish Government, a government which has already admitted to behaving unlawfully, who are under examination.”

Former first minister Alex Salmond makes his opening statement as he attends the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints examining the government's handling of harassment allegations against him. Picture: Andy Buchanan - Pool/Getty ImagesFormer first minister Alex Salmond makes his opening statement as he attends the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints examining the government's handling of harassment allegations against him. Picture: Andy Buchanan - Pool/Getty Images
Former first minister Alex Salmond makes his opening statement as he attends the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints examining the government's handling of harassment allegations against him. Picture: Andy Buchanan - Pool/Getty Images
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Referring to the refusal by the Scottish Government to release legal advice surrounding the judicial review which Mr Salmond won with the government’s procedure being described as “unlawful”, he said he had “grown frustrated” by the committee “being deprived of evidence it has legitimately sought”.

Mr Salmond said he had “watched in astonishment” at the First Minister’s statements during Wednesday’s Covid briefing about his case.

"I’ve made no personal public comment on these matters for any kind for 11 months, but I watched in astonishment on Wednesday when the First Minister of Scotland used a Covid press conference, to effectively question the result of a jury,” he said. “Still I said nothing, but today that changes.”

Alex Salmond swears an oath at the Scottish Parliament before giving evidence.Alex Salmond swears an oath at the Scottish Parliament before giving evidence.
Alex Salmond swears an oath at the Scottish Parliament before giving evidence.

He added: “I have no incentive or advantage in revisiting the hurt and shock of the last three years from a personal perspective or indeed from the perspective of two complainants failed by the government then forced directly against their expressed wishes, into a criminal process.

“For two years and six months, this has been a nightmare. I have every desire to move on and turn the page.

"But the reason I’m here today is because we can’t turn that page until the decision making, which is undermining the system of government in Scotland, is addressed.

"The competence and professionalism of the civil service matters, the independence of the Crown Office as acting in public interest matters, acting in accordance with legal advice matters, concealing evidence from courts matters, democratic accountability through Parliament matters, and yes, ministers telling the truth to Parliament, matters. The day such things don’t come to matter would be a dark and dangerous one for Scotland.”

He said the “failures of leadership are many and obvious”, but that no-one had “taken responsibility”, adding there had been no resignations or sackings. “The Government acted illegally, but somehow nobody is to blame,” he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Salmond also said the committee had been asked to do its job “with both hands tied behind its back and a blindfold on” and added: “Scotland hasn’t failed, its leadership has failed. The importance of this inquiry is for each and everyone of us to help put this right.

Former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond arrives to give evidence to a committee of MSPs, starting at 12:30Former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond arrives to give evidence to a committee of MSPs, starting at 12:30
Former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond arrives to give evidence to a committee of MSPs, starting at 12:30

"The move to independence, which I have sought all my political life ... must be accompanied by institutions whose leadership is strong and robust and capable of protecting each and every citizen from arbitrary authority."

Mr Salmond, who was acquitted of 13 charges of sexual assault in the criminal trial, was awarded a £512,250 payout after he successfully challenged the lawfulness of the Government investigation into harassment claims made against him.

He has made allegations there was a conspiracy against him, for which Nicola Sturgeon has previously insisted there is "not a shred of evidence".

Asked about the development of policies on harassment when he was First Minister, Mr Salmond said the Fairness at Work policy was heralded by trade unions at the time.

He said following the MeToo movement, the policy could have been adapted to strengthen procedures around sexual harassment, rather than "rushing through in spatchcock fashion, without consulting trade unions” a new procedure that “ends up in the Court of Session”.

He said he found it “extraordinary” and “ultimately inexplicable” the new procedure, which was to include former ministers and be able to applied retrospectively, was not put to the Cabinet for discussion.

It was also revealed that a letter had been drafted to go to former ministers to alert them to the new policy, but Mr Salmond said he had never received it or been consulted on the policy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The former first minister claimed "informal procedures" were usually used to resolve issues during his time in government, but refused to speak about an incident where he apologised to someone who ended up making a complaint against him.

SNP MSP Maureen Watt asked: "We've heard evidence on one of the matters, which eventually resulted in a complaint against you, was resolved by you apologising to the woman in question. Was it typical for issues like this to be resolved by apology?"

Mr Salmond said: "I have had three years, Ms Watt, of two court cases, two judges, one jury. As far as these matters are concerned, I will leave it to the courts and the jury, and I'm not going to be drawn in further than that. The vast majority of issues were dealt with by informal procedures."

However, he was pressed by Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton if he wanted to apologise to the two complainants involved in the procedure.

"I want to ask, laying aside the charges of which you have been acquitted, and the allegations that you deny, of the behaviours that you have admitted to, some of which are appalling, are you sorry?" Mr Cole-Hamilton asked.

Mr Salmond replied: "In my statement I pointed out the government's illegality has had huge consequences for a number of people, and specifically mentioned the complainants in my opening statement. Over the last three years, there have been two court cases, two judges and a jury, and I'm resting on the proceedings of these cases."

The current First Minister is scheduled to appear before the committee to give evidence next Wednesday.

A message from the Editor:Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.