Gordon Jackson claims 'set up' over train video in which he discussed Alex Salmond's trial

The QC who successfully represented Alex Salmond at his sexual assault trial, has said he was the victim of a “set up” which forced him to resign as Dean of Scotland’s Faculty of Advocates.

Gordon Jackson QC has claimed he was "set up" after being filmed discussing the Alex Salmond trial on a train.

Gordon Jackson stood down as head of the Scottish Bar after he was recorded on the Edinburgh to Glasgow train publicly discussing details of the case, including the names of two of Mr Salmond’s accusers, who were protected by anonymity.

In the video, which came to light after Mr Salmond was acquitted, Mr Jackson was filmed saying he wanted the jury to believe one witness was “a flake”, and that he wanted “to put a smell on her”.

Mr Jackson referred himself to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission to have his actions investigated, and later quit as Dean.

However today it has been revealed Mr Jackson sent an email to members of the Faculty of Advocates claiming the video footage was a “set up”.

He wrote: “It is as yet far from clear what happened on the train. I strongly suspect this was a deliberate set-up but for now it is not clear what was actually said and to whom and in what circumstances. I very much hope this will be established in due course.”

Asked about the email by The Times, he said: “I wasn’t speaking to a stranger on a train but I don’t know who it was.

“I can’t remember the conversation. I’m clearly talking to someone I knew and who knew me but they have never come forward. If it was a pal you would expect them to say, ‘That was me’.”

He added: “I could have been unlucky and it could just have been someone [on the train] but you’d think they would take it to a tabloid, not The Sunday Times. Maybe I’m clutching at straws but I think there’s more to it.”

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