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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/24/alex-salmond-calls-sexual-misconduct-claims-ridiculous
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| Alex Salmond attacks 'flawed' sexual misconduct inquiry | Alex Salmond attacks 'flawed' sexual misconduct inquiry |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Alex Salmond has begun a legal battle against Scotland’s top civil servant after she told him she was going public with two complaints of sexual misconduct against him. | Alex Salmond has begun a legal battle against Scotland’s top civil servant after she told him she was going public with two complaints of sexual misconduct against him. |
| Salmond has been accused of sexual harassment by two female officials following incidents that allegedly took place while he was first minister of Scotland and have since been passed to the police. | Salmond has been accused of sexual harassment by two female officials following incidents that allegedly took place while he was first minister of Scotland and have since been passed to the police. |
| As Scottish Labour and the Tories called for Salmond’s SNP membership to be suspended, a Police Scotland spokesman said officers were assessing information they had received from the Scottish government and inquiries were “at an early stage”. | As Scottish Labour and the Tories called for Salmond’s SNP membership to be suspended, a Police Scotland spokesman said officers were assessing information they had received from the Scottish government and inquiries were “at an early stage”. |
| In an extensive round of media interviews on Friday, Salmond vigorously denied the accusations and repeatedly accused Leslie Evans, the permanent secretary to the Scottish government, of mishandling the investigation. | In an extensive round of media interviews on Friday, Salmond vigorously denied the accusations and repeatedly accused Leslie Evans, the permanent secretary to the Scottish government, of mishandling the investigation. |
| It was “flawed and bereft of natural justice”, he told a press conference near Linlithgow, claiming he had been assured by government officials from the beginning that it would remain confidential but had never been allowed to see the detailed complaints or evidence against him. | It was “flawed and bereft of natural justice”, he told a press conference near Linlithgow, claiming he had been assured by government officials from the beginning that it would remain confidential but had never been allowed to see the detailed complaints or evidence against him. |
| Salmond said he was “no saint” and had made “a number of mistakes in my life, both political and personal, but I shall keep those to myself”. He would not comment on whether Evans had found he had a case to answer, but said: “I refute the complaints. They are not correct. And I also unequivocally deny any semblance of criminality.” | Salmond said he was “no saint” and had made “a number of mistakes in my life, both political and personal, but I shall keep those to myself”. He would not comment on whether Evans had found he had a case to answer, but said: “I refute the complaints. They are not correct. And I also unequivocally deny any semblance of criminality.” |
| The former Scottish National party leader confirmed he had launched a legal challenge over the Scottish government’s handling of the allegations after being told by Evans on Wednesday they were going to be made public. | The former Scottish National party leader confirmed he had launched a legal challenge over the Scottish government’s handling of the allegations after being told by Evans on Wednesday they were going to be made public. |
| Alex Salmond: 'Westminster politics decays before our eyes' | Alex Salmond: 'Westminster politics decays before our eyes' |
| As the dispute escalated rapidly on Friday morning, Nicola Sturgeon, Salmond’s successor as first minister and SNP leader, admitted the explosive allegations against her former mentor caused her great discomfort and would deeply disturb Scottish National party activists. | As the dispute escalated rapidly on Friday morning, Nicola Sturgeon, Salmond’s successor as first minister and SNP leader, admitted the explosive allegations against her former mentor caused her great discomfort and would deeply disturb Scottish National party activists. |
| A visibly distressed Sturgeon told the BBC: “This is an incredibly difficult situation for me to come to terms with. Everybody knows the length and closeness of my relationship to Alex Salmond and I think people will understand how difficult this is for me and my party. | A visibly distressed Sturgeon told the BBC: “This is an incredibly difficult situation for me to come to terms with. Everybody knows the length and closeness of my relationship to Alex Salmond and I think people will understand how difficult this is for me and my party. |
| “This will be extremely upsetting to members of the SNP up and down the country. It is a difficult situation but what is important is that complaints are treated seriously, regardless of who the person complained about is,” she said. | “This will be extremely upsetting to members of the SNP up and down the country. It is a difficult situation but what is important is that complaints are treated seriously, regardless of who the person complained about is,” she said. |
| Salmond disclosed to the media he had directly lobbied Sturgeon, including three private meetings in person, to protest about the investigation. He said those meetings were private but said: “I would say that the very legitimate concerns, reservations, arguments about the nature of this, I have made to everybody at every available opportunity.” | Salmond disclosed to the media he had directly lobbied Sturgeon, including three private meetings in person, to protest about the investigation. He said those meetings were private but said: “I would say that the very legitimate concerns, reservations, arguments about the nature of this, I have made to everybody at every available opportunity.” |
| In a long personal statement, Sturgeon bluntly rejected Salmond’s allegations that the case had been mishandled. She said confidence in the integrity and independence of the complaints system was paramount. | In a long personal statement, Sturgeon bluntly rejected Salmond’s allegations that the case had been mishandled. She said confidence in the integrity and independence of the complaints system was paramount. |
| “For that principle to mean anything it cannot be applied selectively. It must be applied without fear or favour, regardless of the identity, seniority or political allegiance of the person involved.” | “For that principle to mean anything it cannot be applied selectively. It must be applied without fear or favour, regardless of the identity, seniority or political allegiance of the person involved.” |
| Salmond was told of the allegations in March and he said on Thursday night that he had spent months trying to resolve the complaints privately, using mediation, conciliation and legal arbitration. | Salmond was told of the allegations in March and he said on Thursday night that he had spent months trying to resolve the complaints privately, using mediation, conciliation and legal arbitration. |
| Those overtures were rejected by Evans, who issued her own formal statement on the affair. She said she told Salmond on Wednesday of her intention to make the fact of the complaints and her investigation public. | Those overtures were rejected by Evans, who issued her own formal statement on the affair. She said she told Salmond on Wednesday of her intention to make the fact of the complaints and her investigation public. |
| After he threatened Evans with an interdict to block publication, the Scottish government decided to delay its plans to release a statement. News of the investigations leaked to the Daily Record, which then put them to Salmond late on Thursday. On Friday, Labour said that Salmond should be suspended from the SNP with immediate effect. | After he threatened Evans with an interdict to block publication, the Scottish government decided to delay its plans to release a statement. News of the investigations leaked to the Daily Record, which then put them to Salmond late on Thursday. On Friday, Labour said that Salmond should be suspended from the SNP with immediate effect. |
| Salmond dropped the interdict and is instead launching new legal proceedings in the civil courts seeking a judicial review of the department’s handling of the affair. | Salmond dropped the interdict and is instead launching new legal proceedings in the civil courts seeking a judicial review of the department’s handling of the affair. |
| “If I lose then I will have to answer to the complaints both comprehensively and publicly. Until then I am bound to say nothing which would impinge on the court proceedings,” he said. | “If I lose then I will have to answer to the complaints both comprehensively and publicly. Until then I am bound to say nothing which would impinge on the court proceedings,” he said. |
| “[If] the court of session finds in my favour, then the administration at the senior levels of the Scottish government will have the most serious questions to answer.” | “[If] the court of session finds in my favour, then the administration at the senior levels of the Scottish government will have the most serious questions to answer.” |
| Salmond and Sturgeon’s solo acts are no joke | Kevin McKenna | Salmond and Sturgeon’s solo acts are no joke | Kevin McKenna |
| Salmond refused to directly answer media questions on Friday about whether he had been the subject of previous complaints about his behaviour as first minister, whether he had had consensual sexual dealings with other women, and refused to confirm or deny whether the media had approached him with other allegations of sexual misconduct in the last 18 months. | Salmond refused to directly answer media questions on Friday about whether he had been the subject of previous complaints about his behaviour as first minister, whether he had had consensual sexual dealings with other women, and refused to confirm or deny whether the media had approached him with other allegations of sexual misconduct in the last 18 months. |
| In her statement, Evans vigorously defended her department’s handling of the affair, which was investigated using much tougher procedures introduced by Evans and Sturgeon after serious complaints of sexual misconduct emerged at Westminster. | In her statement, Evans vigorously defended her department’s handling of the affair, which was investigated using much tougher procedures introduced by Evans and Sturgeon after serious complaints of sexual misconduct emerged at Westminster. |
| Evans stressed Sturgeon had nothing to do with the process at any stage. “I note that the former first minister has indicated his intention to challenge the actions taken by the Scottish government. | Evans stressed Sturgeon had nothing to do with the process at any stage. “I note that the former first minister has indicated his intention to challenge the actions taken by the Scottish government. |
| “His statement contains significant inaccuracies which will be addressed in those court proceedings. The Scottish government will defend its position vigorously. You will appreciate that for legal reasons the Scottish government is limited in what can be said. | “His statement contains significant inaccuracies which will be addressed in those court proceedings. The Scottish government will defend its position vigorously. You will appreciate that for legal reasons the Scottish government is limited in what can be said. |
| “The first minister has had no role in this process. I advised her of the conclusions of my investigation on Wednesday and she is of course aware that I am making this statement today. As the head of the civil service in Scotland, I have been consistently clear that there is no place for harassment of any kind in the workplace.” | “The first minister has had no role in this process. I advised her of the conclusions of my investigation on Wednesday and she is of course aware that I am making this statement today. As the head of the civil service in Scotland, I have been consistently clear that there is no place for harassment of any kind in the workplace.” |
| Sturgeon confirmed she had been aware of the allegations for some time. Evans told her earlier this week she planned to go public. Sturgeon supported Evans’s defence of the Scottish government’s handling of the affair. | Sturgeon confirmed she had been aware of the allegations for some time. Evans told her earlier this week she planned to go public. Sturgeon supported Evans’s defence of the Scottish government’s handling of the affair. |
| She said: “Alex Salmond is now challenging the Scottish government’s procedure in court. The Scottish government refutes his criticisms of its process and will defend its position vigorously. [The] overriding priority must be to ensure fair and due process. I would also ask that the privacy of those who have complained be respected.” | She said: “Alex Salmond is now challenging the Scottish government’s procedure in court. The Scottish government refutes his criticisms of its process and will defend its position vigorously. [The] overriding priority must be to ensure fair and due process. I would also ask that the privacy of those who have complained be respected.” |
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