Angus Robertson contacted by Edinburgh Airport over Alex Salmond behaviour concerns

The former leader of the SNP in Westminster, Angus Robertson, was contacted by Edinburgh Airport around allegations the former first minister Alex Salmond had acted inappropriately at the transport hub.

Angus Robertson said he was contacted about "inappropriateness" connected to Alex Salmond

Mr Salmond denied the “inappropriateness" towards female staff to Mr Robertson and no formal complaint was raised at the time.

The incident happened in 2009 while Mr Salmond was First Minister and was brought to the attention of Nicola Sturgeon in November 2017 following a press enquiry from Sky News, which did not run a story on the incident.

In her written evidence, the First Minister said Mr Salmond denied the allegation during conversations that month.

The submission from Mr Robertson - seen by some as a successor to Ms Sturgeon as leader of the SNP – is part of the ongoing Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish Government’s handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond.

The botched probe into the former first minister’s behaviour cost taxpayers’ £500,000 in legal costs after Mr Salmond brought a successful judicial review case to the Court of Session.

Mr Salmond was also cleared of sexual offence charges in a criminal trial earlier this year.

Mr Robertson, who is standing to be the MSP for Edinburgh Central, also said he had no involvement with the development of the harassment complaints procedure and was not involved in any discussions with senior SNP figures or special advisers in connection to allegations of sexual misconduct by Mr Salmond during his time as SNP Westminster leader.

He said he also had no other information relevant to the inquiry’s remit.

Commenting on the alleged incident in 2009, Mr Robertson said he raised the issue “directly” with Mr Salmond after a phone call from an Edinburgh Airport manager.

He said Mr Salmond denied the allegation and it was not raised further due to no formal complaint.

In his letter to the committee, he said: “I was asked if I could informally broach the subject with Mr Salmond to make him aware of this perception.

"I raised the matter directly with Mr Salmond, who denied he had acted inappropriately in any way.

"I communicated back to the Edinburgh Airport manager that a conversation had happened. The matter being resolved, and without a formal complaint having been made, it was not reported further.”

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