This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-45350594

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Nicola Sturgeon's 'huge sadness' as Alex Salmond resigns Nicola Sturgeon's 'huge sadness' as Alex Salmond resigns
(about 7 hours later)
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has spoken of her "huge sadness" following the resignation of former SNP leader Alex Salmond from the party.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has spoken of her "huge sadness" following the resignation of former SNP leader Alex Salmond from the party.
Mr Salmond announced he was quitting on Wednesday amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies.Mr Salmond announced he was quitting on Wednesday amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies.
The ex-first minister said he intended to apply to rejoin the party once he had an opportunity to clear his name.The ex-first minister said he intended to apply to rejoin the party once he had an opportunity to clear his name.
Ms Sturgeon called Mr Salmond her "friend and mentor for almost 30 years" and said she understood his decision.Ms Sturgeon called Mr Salmond her "friend and mentor for almost 30 years" and said she understood his decision.
But she said: "The hard fact remains that two complaints were received by the Scottish government that could not be ignored or swept under the carpet."But she said: "The hard fact remains that two complaints were received by the Scottish government that could not be ignored or swept under the carpet."
Mr Salmond, who was Scottish first minister from 2007 to 2014 and oversaw the independence referendum, released a video on social media on Wednesday evening announcing his resignation from the SNP.Mr Salmond, who was Scottish first minister from 2007 to 2014 and oversaw the independence referendum, released a video on social media on Wednesday evening announcing his resignation from the SNP.
It follows allegations, which emerged last week, from two Scottish government staff members about his behaviour when he was first minister. He said he was quitting because he wanted to avoid potential divisions within the party, which has faced calls to suspend him.
Mr Salmond has described the allegations as "patently ridiculous" and has begun legal action against the Scottish government over its handling of the claims. It follows allegations, which emerged last week, from two Scottish government staff members about Mr Salmond's behaviour when he was first minister.
Salmond allegations: What do we know? He has described the allegations as "patently ridiculous" and has begun legal action against the Scottish government over its handling of the claims, which are now being investigated by Police Scotland.
'Innocent until proven guilty' Crowdfunding appeal
In his statement, Mr Salmond said he was quitting because he wanted to avoid potential divisions within the SNP, which has faced calls to suspend him. Mr Salmond also launched a crowdfunding appeal on Wednesday evening to pay for the costs of the legal action.
He stated: "I did not come into politics to facilitate opposition attacks on the SNP and, with Parliament returning next week, I have tendered my resignation to remove this line of opposition attack. The appeal surpassed its £50,000 target within a few hours, but has been heavily criticised by opposition parties.
The Scottish Conservatives said Mr Salmond's move was "astonishing" as it meant Scotland "now faces the incredible and unprecedented situation of its most famous former first minister appealing to SNP supporters for cash to take legal action against the government he used to run."
Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant claimed Mr Salmond was "sending a signal to those who have made the allegations that he has the upper hand".
Labour's former first minister, Jack McConnell, is among those who have urged people to instead donate to charities which help victims of sexual assault and harassment.
In his statement, Mr Salmond said: "I did not come into politics to facilitate opposition attacks on the SNP and, with parliament returning next week, I have tendered my resignation to remove this line of opposition attack.
"Most of all, I am conscious that if the party felt forced into suspending me it would cause substantial internal division.""Most of all, I am conscious that if the party felt forced into suspending me it would cause substantial internal division."
He added: "For my part I have always thought it a very poor idea to suspend any party member on the basis of complaints and allegations. Innocent until proven guilty is central to our concept of justice."He added: "For my part I have always thought it a very poor idea to suspend any party member on the basis of complaints and allegations. Innocent until proven guilty is central to our concept of justice."
Mr Salmond - who took the SNP closer to its aim of independence than it had ever been - said he had been a member of the party for 45 years, 20 of them as leader.Mr Salmond - who took the SNP closer to its aim of independence than it had ever been - said he had been a member of the party for 45 years, 20 of them as leader.
He said: "I truly love the SNP and the wider independence movement in Scotland. They have been the defining commitment of my life. But today I have written to the National Secretary of the party resigning my membership."He said: "I truly love the SNP and the wider independence movement in Scotland. They have been the defining commitment of my life. But today I have written to the National Secretary of the party resigning my membership."
'Upset'
The current SNP leader Ms Sturgeon said she "felt a huge sadness about the whole situation".The current SNP leader Ms Sturgeon said she "felt a huge sadness about the whole situation".
In a statement on Twitter, she said the decision was Mr Salmond's alone, and she understood why he had chosen to separate "the current questions he is facing from the day to day business of the SNP and the ongoing campaign for independence".In a statement on Twitter, she said the decision was Mr Salmond's alone, and she understood why he had chosen to separate "the current questions he is facing from the day to day business of the SNP and the ongoing campaign for independence".
"I know party members will be upset by this news, just as I am," she added."I know party members will be upset by this news, just as I am," she added.
"I also know there are many questions that can only be answered in the fullness of time. It is important now that any legal processes are allowed to take their course.""I also know there are many questions that can only be answered in the fullness of time. It is important now that any legal processes are allowed to take their course."
The Daily Record newspaper broke the news of the sexual misconduct allegations last Thursday.The Daily Record newspaper broke the news of the sexual misconduct allegations last Thursday.
The paper claims to have seen wording of one complaint which describes an incident alleged to have taken place at the first minister's official residence in Edinburgh, Bute House, in the first week of December 2013.The paper claims to have seen wording of one complaint which describes an incident alleged to have taken place at the first minister's official residence in Edinburgh, Bute House, in the first week of December 2013.
The two women lodged complaints in January this year, just weeks after the Scottish government adopted a new complaints procedure in the light of wider concern about sexual harassment at Holyrood and Westminster.The two women lodged complaints in January this year, just weeks after the Scottish government adopted a new complaints procedure in the light of wider concern about sexual harassment at Holyrood and Westminster.
Mr Salmond claims that the subsequent investigation into the allegations against him by senior Scottish government civil servants was "unfair and unjust". Mr Salmond claims that the subsequent investigation into the allegations against him by senior Scottish government civil servants was "unfair and unjust" - something Ms Sturgeon strongly denies.
He said he had been given no opportunity to "see and therefore to properly challenge the case against me" and that he had "not been allowed to see the evidence".He said he had been given no opportunity to "see and therefore to properly challenge the case against me" and that he had "not been allowed to see the evidence".
Mr Salmond has also claimed that someone within the Scottish government has "flagrantly and repeatedly" breached the confidential complaints process by leaking details to the Daily Record.Mr Salmond has also claimed that someone within the Scottish government has "flagrantly and repeatedly" breached the confidential complaints process by leaking details to the Daily Record.
He is now seeking a judicial review of the new complaints procedure. He launched a crowdfunding appeal to fund his legal action. In an article in the Times newspaper, the head of the FDA civil service trade union in Scotland criticised Mr Salmond for singling out the Scottish government's most senior civil servant, Leslie Evans, for criticism.
Conspiracy theories
In his original statement about the allegations last week, Mr Salmond said the permanent secretary had, "for whatever reason" decided to "mount a process against me using an unlawful procedure which she herself introduced".
Ms Evans has since become the target of online abuse and conspiracy theories.
She was last year tasked by Ms Sturgeon with drawing up a new procedure for dealing with harassment allegations against current and former government ministers
The procedure was introduced with the blessing of Ms Sturgeon in December - but Mr Salmond has previously described it as the "Leslie Evans procedure".
FDA general secretary Dave Penman said: "If you want to give it a name, it is the Nicola Sturgeon procedure. It is owned by the Scottish government and, as Ms Sturgeon herself made clear, she agreed it in 2017.
"Mr Salmond's decision to attack the integrity of Scotland's most senior civil servant is no accident. He would be aware that his supporters would jump on this bandwagon."
Mr Penman also said that, as a former first minister, Mr Salmond "knows that Ms Evans is duty-bound to investigate complaints".
Alex SalmondAlex Salmond
The Scottish government has insisted the complaints process has been "entirely confidential throughout" and has said it will defend its position vigorously in the courts.The Scottish government has insisted the complaints process has been "entirely confidential throughout" and has said it will defend its position vigorously in the courts.
The complaints against Mr Salmond have been passed to Police Scotland which has said it is assessing the information. It passed the complaints against Mr Salmond to Police Scotland last week. The force has said it is assessing the information.
Mr Salmond returned to frontline politics when he was elected as the SNP MP for Gordon in 2015 and became the party's foreign affairs spokesman at Westminster before losing the seat in the snap general election two years later.Mr Salmond returned to frontline politics when he was elected as the SNP MP for Gordon in 2015 and became the party's foreign affairs spokesman at Westminster before losing the seat in the snap general election two years later.
Since then he has faced heavy criticism for hosting the Alex Salmond Show on Russian broadcaster RT, which has been described as a propaganda channel for the Kremlin - a claim Mr Salmond has denied.Since then he has faced heavy criticism for hosting the Alex Salmond Show on Russian broadcaster RT, which has been described as a propaganda channel for the Kremlin - a claim Mr Salmond has denied.