Alex Salmond trial ‘a bump in the road’ for Scottish independence movement

The political fall-out from the Alex Salmond trial is “just another bump in the road” for the Scottish independence movenment, a senior SNP MP has said.

Alex Salmond speaks outside the High Court in Edinburgh after he was cleared of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA

Kenny MacAskill, a former Holyrood justice secretary, dismissed predictions the campaign for an independent Scotland would be damaged by a jury’s decision to acquit Mr Salmond on all charges at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday.

Writing in today’s Scotsman, the MP for East Lothian said the wider independence movement was “bigger than any individual”.

But Mr MacAskill also warned there needed to be “resignations” from the SNP over how initial complaints against its former leader were handled, suggesting that some in the party had acted “despicably”.

He said: “It’s neither the time nor place to consider this as life as we know it is dominated by the coronavirus crisis. Everything is subsumed by it as our people’s health is threatened along with the society we cherish.

“But a time will come and a reckoning there must be.”

The veteran Nationalist served in Mr Salmond’s Holyrood cabinet until the then First Minister stood down in the wake of the 2014 independence referendum.

“A few have acted despicably and many of us feel a breach of trust,” Mr McAskill continued.

“To whom do these individuals work and for what purpose are they acting?

“They cannot remain and a few others now face questions marks over why they are in the positions they hold, as it certainly hasn’t been on ability.

“They should go quietly under the cover of coronavirus.”

Mr Salmond had faced 13 charges of sexual assault but walked free after a jury returned 11 not guilty and one not proven verdicts. Another charge was dropped.

On the verdict, Mr MacAskill said: “(The) outcome seems to have been to the chagrin of some who seem to doubt the jury’s decision.

“Though, I have to say that most of his senior political opponents that I spoke to were either wishing him well or at minimum expressing the view that the allegations were not the man they knew.

“That was also the overwhelming view of those from what might be described as Old SNP and had watched him build the party that now dominates Scotland.

“But a few seemed intent on getting some perverse pleasure from his assumed demise.

“Opinion of him varied between those who revered him and those who loathed him with few neutrals.

“For some it was the threat to their beliefs and with others a mixture of fear and loathing, as he is an outstanding political strategist and formidable debater.

“Sadly, a few of them were even within the SNP. But they require to be held to account.”

He added: “As for the independence cause those who predict its demise can dream on. It’s bigger than any individual and can survive another bump in the road.

“Irish independence survived the fall of Charles Stewart Parnell.”