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| Can the SNP survive the mess of Salmondgate? | Can the SNP survive the mess of Salmondgate? |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Salmondgate, as we will inevitably come to know it, has unfolded just six weeks before the annual SNP conference in Glasgow. It’s a particularly vital conference, given the imminence of the Brexit endgame, the debate over the merits and timing of a second independence referendum, and the status of the contentious growth commission report on future Scottish finances. | Salmondgate, as we will inevitably come to know it, has unfolded just six weeks before the annual SNP conference in Glasgow. It’s a particularly vital conference, given the imminence of the Brexit endgame, the debate over the merits and timing of a second independence referendum, and the status of the contentious growth commission report on future Scottish finances. |
| Yet these issues threaten to be subsumed by the astonishing events of the past seven days, which have consumed Scottish political circles. The whole saga is beginning to have Shakespearean undertones. | Yet these issues threaten to be subsumed by the astonishing events of the past seven days, which have consumed Scottish political circles. The whole saga is beginning to have Shakespearean undertones. |
| First came the bombshell that in January two women had accused Alex Salmond of sexual harassment in 2013 when he was still first minister. Then followed news that he was seeking to take the Scottish government to court on the grounds that the subsequent process to investigate the claims had been unfair to all the parties involved. | First came the bombshell that in January two women had accused Alex Salmond of sexual harassment in 2013 when he was still first minister. Then followed news that he was seeking to take the Scottish government to court on the grounds that the subsequent process to investigate the claims had been unfair to all the parties involved. |
| Alex Salmond resignation from SNP could have seismic repercussions | Alex Salmond resignation from SNP could have seismic repercussions |
| His successor, friend and long-time colleague Nicola Sturgeon, did not hide her distress as she made a public statement that the government would defend his court action, and that nobody, however high-profile, was immune from investigation. They have been friends and colleagues for three decades and stood shoulder to shoulder in the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence. | His successor, friend and long-time colleague Nicola Sturgeon, did not hide her distress as she made a public statement that the government would defend his court action, and that nobody, however high-profile, was immune from investigation. They have been friends and colleagues for three decades and stood shoulder to shoulder in the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence. |
| And now the biggest beast in Scottish politics, the man who led his party from the electoral fringes to the centre stage, who joined the SNP as a teenage activist, is no longer even a member. He handed in his party card, he said, to avoid political opponents using the events to damage the SNP. | And now the biggest beast in Scottish politics, the man who led his party from the electoral fringes to the centre stage, who joined the SNP as a teenage activist, is no longer even a member. He handed in his party card, he said, to avoid political opponents using the events to damage the SNP. |
| Since both Scottish Labour and the Scottish Tories had been loudly demanding his suspension, you might think that the fox had been neatly shot. But now attention, and criticism, has turned to his decision to launch a crowdfunding site to help underwrite his legal bills. (Its initial target has already been exceeded.) | Since both Scottish Labour and the Scottish Tories had been loudly demanding his suspension, you might think that the fox had been neatly shot. But now attention, and criticism, has turned to his decision to launch a crowdfunding site to help underwrite his legal bills. (Its initial target has already been exceeded.) |
| The two separate accusations of misconduct follow a toughening up of the rules by Sturgeon and her permanent secretary, Leslie Evans, in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment in Westminster. Last week Evans had threatened to put the matter in the public domain, which Salmond insisted would breach the confidentiality of all involved. | The two separate accusations of misconduct follow a toughening up of the rules by Sturgeon and her permanent secretary, Leslie Evans, in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment in Westminster. Last week Evans had threatened to put the matter in the public domain, which Salmond insisted would breach the confidentiality of all involved. |
| In the event, that dispute became academic when the substance of the allegations was leaked to and published by the Daily Record. | In the event, that dispute became academic when the substance of the allegations was leaked to and published by the Daily Record. |
| The long-term damage to Salmond, his party and indeed the Scottish government is difficult to compute. The SNP has been in power in Holyrood for 11 years now, first as a minority administration but with a parliamentary majority since 2011. | The long-term damage to Salmond, his party and indeed the Scottish government is difficult to compute. The SNP has been in power in Holyrood for 11 years now, first as a minority administration but with a parliamentary majority since 2011. |
| It shocked even itself when it took 56 of the 59 Westminster seats in the 2015 UK general election, which was scaled back to 35 in Theresa May’s snap poll two years later. Alex Salmond was the highest-profile victim of that reversal, losing his seat to a little-known Tory. | It shocked even itself when it took 56 of the 59 Westminster seats in the 2015 UK general election, which was scaled back to 35 in Theresa May’s snap poll two years later. Alex Salmond was the highest-profile victim of that reversal, losing his seat to a little-known Tory. |
| What has kept the SNP thus far in business is an admired leader in Sturgeon, and a breadth of cabinet-level talent that its opponents are unable to match. Scottish Labour, once seemingly invincible, has remarkably gone through nine leaders since the death of Donald Dewar in 2000. | What has kept the SNP thus far in business is an admired leader in Sturgeon, and a breadth of cabinet-level talent that its opponents are unable to match. Scottish Labour, once seemingly invincible, has remarkably gone through nine leaders since the death of Donald Dewar in 2000. |
| Tory leader Ruth Davidson enjoys a high profile and considerable respect on both sides of the border, but does not lead a star-studded platoon at home. She is pregnant with her first child and due to take maternity leave. The Greens have talent but a tiny army; ditto the Lib Dems. So ironically, the most potent current danger to the SNP lies within its own ranks. | Tory leader Ruth Davidson enjoys a high profile and considerable respect on both sides of the border, but does not lead a star-studded platoon at home. She is pregnant with her first child and due to take maternity leave. The Greens have talent but a tiny army; ditto the Lib Dems. So ironically, the most potent current danger to the SNP lies within its own ranks. |
| While there is absolutely no suggestion that recent events have produced personal animosity between the current and former first ministers, many of the nationalist faithful hold different views of their respective leadership qualities. | While there is absolutely no suggestion that recent events have produced personal animosity between the current and former first ministers, many of the nationalist faithful hold different views of their respective leadership qualities. |
| There are those who still mainly worship at the Salmond altar because of his electoral successes and his swashbuckling persona. And others who have been unimpressed by Salmond being paid to present a talkshow on Russia Today – in any case, that contingent are more admiring of Sturgeon’s understated style and surefootedness. | There are those who still mainly worship at the Salmond altar because of his electoral successes and his swashbuckling persona. And others who have been unimpressed by Salmond being paid to present a talkshow on Russia Today – in any case, that contingent are more admiring of Sturgeon’s understated style and surefootedness. |
| Meanwhile the two complainants, and the man they accuse, must now await the end of the court process and then the outcome of police inquiries still “at an early stage”. | Meanwhile the two complainants, and the man they accuse, must now await the end of the court process and then the outcome of police inquiries still “at an early stage”. |
| There is a Scottish word, bourach, which roughly translates as a mess. We have a bourach on our hands here. | There is a Scottish word, bourach, which roughly translates as a mess. We have a bourach on our hands here. |
| • Ruth Wishart is a Scottish freelance columnist and broadcaster | • Ruth Wishart is a Scottish freelance columnist and broadcaster |
| Alex Salmond is using crowdfunding to signal his power. That’s wrong | Suzanne Moore | Alex Salmond is using crowdfunding to signal his power. That’s wrong | Suzanne Moore |
| Alex Salmond | Alex Salmond |
| Opinion | Opinion |
| Scottish National party (SNP) | Scottish National party (SNP) |
| Nicola Sturgeon | Nicola Sturgeon |
| Scotland | Scotland |
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