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 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Nicola Sturgeon's 'huge sadness' as Alex Salmond resigns | Nicola Sturgeon's 'huge sadness' as Alex Salmond resigns |
| (about 1 hour 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. |
| He said he was quitting because he wanted to avoid potential divisions within the party, which has faced calls to suspend him. | He said he was quitting because he wanted to avoid potential divisions within the party, which has faced calls to suspend him. |
| It follows allegations, which emerged last week, from two Scottish government staff members about Mr Salmond's behaviour when he was first minister. | It follows allegations, which emerged last week, from two Scottish government staff members about Mr Salmond's behaviour when he was first minister. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Crowdfunding appeal | Crowdfunding appeal |
| Mr Salmond also launched a crowdfunding appeal on Wednesday evening to pay for the costs of the legal action. | Mr Salmond also launched a crowdfunding appeal on Wednesday evening to pay for the costs of the legal action. |
| The appeal surpassed its £50,000 target within a few hours, but has been heavily criticised by opposition parties. | 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." | 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" and accused him of "dragging Scotland into the gutter". | 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" and accused him of "dragging Scotland into the gutter". |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ms Sturgeon retweeted funding appeals for Rape Crisis and Women's Aid on Thursday morning. | Ms Sturgeon retweeted funding appeals for Rape Crisis and Women's Aid on Thursday morning. |
| 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. | 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." |
| 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 says it has 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 says it has 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. |
| Analysis by Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor | Analysis by Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor |
| Does this resolve all the issues for the party? Of course it doesn't. | |
| There is an atmosphere of despair, a demeanour of despondency, around Team Sturgeon as they view the impact upon the party - it's a political problem for the SNP - and the cause of independence, which Mr Salmond believes he is partly ameliorating by stepping down while his court case is heard. | |
| But there are problems within government as well. | |
| It was Nicola Sturgeon who instigated the review of internal sexual conduct procedures within the Scottish government, the consequence of which would appear to be that a couple of complaints were raised in January following that review. | |
| It is personal for Nicola Sturgeon as well, as she acknowledges in the statement she issued last night - Alex Salmond has been her friend and mentor for 30 years. | It is personal for Nicola Sturgeon as well, as she acknowledges in the statement she issued last night - Alex Salmond has been her friend and mentor for 30 years. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Conspiracy theories | Conspiracy theories |
| In an article in the Times newspaper, the head of the FDA civil service trade union criticised Mr Salmond for singling out the Scottish government's most senior civil servant, Leslie Evans, for criticism. | In an article in the Times newspaper, the head of the FDA civil service trade union criticised Mr Salmond for singling out the Scottish government's most senior civil servant, Leslie Evans, for criticism. |
| 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". | 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. | Ms Evans has since become the target of online abuse and conspiracy theories. |
| She was last year tasked by Ms Sturgeon with reviewing new procedures for dealing with harassment allegations against current and former government ministers. | She was last year tasked by Ms Sturgeon with reviewing new procedures for dealing with harassment allegations against current and former government ministers. |
| A new procedure was introduced with the blessing of Ms Sturgeon in December - but Mr Salmond has previously described it as the "Leslie Evans procedure". | A new 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. | 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 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". | Mr Penman also said that, as a former first minister, Mr Salmond "knows that Ms Evans is duty-bound to investigate complaints". |
| Alex Salmond | Alex 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. |
| It passed the complaints against Mr Salmond to Police Scotland last week. The force 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. |