Sturgeon urged to think twice about readmitting Salmond to SNP

Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to block Alex Salmond’s return to the SNP, in the light of controversial remarks made by his defence counsel.

Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to block Alex Salmond's readmittance to the SNP.

Despite the former First Minister being cleared of a series of sexual assault charges, the Scottish Conservatives have said there are “questions about his conduct” which should end any political ambitions.

However many within the SNP, including MSP Alex Neill and MP Kenny MacAskill have said Mr Salmond should rejoin immediately.

He resigned his membership in August 2018 to concentrate on clearing his name, but said he would rejoin the party if he won his case. There has been speculation that he wants to run for Holyrood in next year’s elections.

Today, Scottish Conservative deputy leader Annie Wells said that comments made by Mr Salmond’s defence counsel, and also by his former speech writer since the conclusion of the trial, should make Nicola Sturgeon block her predecessor’s re-admittance to the SNP.

Gordon Jackson QC is now under investigation by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission after he was filmed discussing the case on a train and is said to have called Mr Salmond a “sex pest” – which he has denied. Meanwhile Alex Bell, who appeared as a defence witness in the trial, has since described Mr Salmond as a “creep”.

Rape Crisis Scotland has criticised how the trial was conducted, and the women involved have said their cases were “minimised and trivialised” in the High Court.

Ms Wells said: “Alex Salmond may have been cleared in a court of law, but concerns remain about his conduct while he held the highest office in the land.

“Even his top defence lawyer and defence witness can’t seem to vouch for his character.

“It’s pretty obvious, now he’s brushed this off, the former First Minister wants to get himself back into politics and onto the front line.

“Nicola Sturgeon has a decision to make, and if she’s as serious about concerns raised by charities like Rape Crisis Scotland, she should think twice about who she allows back into the SNP.”

The SNP has been asked for comment.