Alex Salmond: I have not sexually harassed anyone
2 min read
Former SNP leader Alex Salmond today insisted he had not “sexually harassed anyone” after he vowed to take the Scottish government to court over allegations against him.
The ex-first minister was reported to police over claims he sexually assaulted two former staff members at his then-official residence of Bute House in 2013.
Mr Salmond has vigorously denied the claims and said he will be taking legal action against the Scottish government over its handling of a probe into the affair.
Initially he released a statement saying allegations made against him were “patently ridiculous” without specifying what they were – but this afternoon he faced the claims head on.
"I’ve made many mistakes in my life, political and personal but I have not sexually harassed anyone," he told the BBC.
"And I certainly have not been engaged in criminality. I’m no saint, I’ve got flaws, I understand that."
He said he was taking the Scottish Government to court with "great reluctance" but had been "forced" to do so over disputes around how the internal investigation had been handled.
And he said: "That is what is necessary in order to establish a fair process, and you have to have a fair kick at the ball.
"You’ve got to have justice in the process. Not just for the person on the receiving end of the complaints but for the complainers themselves."
Earlier, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was “difficult to come to terms” with the allegations made against her former boss.
The SNP leader revealed she had been made aware of the allegations by Mr Salmond “some time” ago but had not been involved in the internal investigation into his behaviour.
“I have no role in the process, and to have referred to it before now would have compromised the integrity of the internal investigation which I was not prepared to do,” she said.
She added: “I am also acutely aware how upsetting this will be for my party.”
Mr Salmond was succeeded as first minister by Ms Sturgeon after losing the Scottish independence referendum in 2014. He led the Scottish government from 2007.
He served as MP for Gordon from 2015 until he lost the seat in last year’s general election.
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