Alex Salmond launched a blistering attack on Nicola Sturgeon today as he claimed Scotland's "leadership has failed". The former First Minister accused his successor of using a coronavirus press conference to "effectively question the result of a jury" which cleared him of sex assault charges. The claim came as he gave evidence to an inquiry into the Scottish Government's unlawful investigation of sexual harassment allegations against him. Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon were previously the closest of allies at the top of the Scottish independence movement. But their relationship disintegrated over sex assault claims of which Mr Salmond was acquitted last year. Separately, the Court of Session ruled the Scottish Government's investigation into complaints against him was "tainted by apparent bias" after it emerged the investigating officer had prior contact with two of the women who filed complaints. In his opening statement to the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling … [Read more...] about Alex Salmond says Scotland’s ‘leadership has failed’ in blistering attack on Nicola Sturgeon
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JIM SILLARS: I’ve been a lifelong SNP supporter… but the stench is such that I cannot hold my nose and vote for the party in May
JIM SILLARS is the former deputy leader of the Scottish National Party Is the cause of independence damaged by what started out as the Salmond-Sturgeon clash? Has it now become the cause of grave concern that two of our most important institutions, our parliament and the Government drawn from it, and the Crown Office, now lie under a dark cloud of suspicion of political corruption? There can be no other answer but yes. The SNP became the chosen instrument by many to take Scotland to independence, and as such gathered membership and parliamentary strength in recent years. Fairly or not, the trust people put on the idea of independence is linked to their trust in the SNP. Where trust was heavily invested was in its commitment to the ethical standards essential for a democracy to survive: honesty by those who have the power to be dishonest, restraint in the use of power by those in a position to abuse it, adhering to the codes of justice by those with the power to ignore … [Read more...] about JIM SILLARS: I’ve been a lifelong SNP supporter… but the stench is such that I cannot hold my nose and vote for the party in May
As Alex Salmond waved to photographers on his exit from Holyrood, something else left the building too
As former first minister Alex Salmond waved to photographers on his exit from Holyrood, something else left the building. An email sent by the Scottish Parliament's harassment committee that might yet breach the evidence impasse. For as long, detailed and explosive as six hours of testimony was from Mr Salmond, it's not underpinned by available paperwork. And therein lies its inherent weakness. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Will Salmond inquiry damage the SNP? He's been taunted by his one-time friend now big-time enemy Nicola Sturgeon , who was calling for "the evidence" before his witness appearance and, minutes afterwards, her spokesperson was repeating her demands in its wake. Mr Salmond says it's not his fault that little evidence has been produced. He insists he is "severely hampered" by an inability to access a range of documents supporting a number of occasions, partly because of government obstruction. … [Read more...] about As Alex Salmond waved to photographers on his exit from Holyrood, something else left the building too