Nicola Sturgeon has challenged Alex Salmond to provide evidence for his claims of a conspiracy against him, stating that he has made assertions 'without a shred of evidence'. The first minister said any suggestion of a coordinated effort to remove him from public life was 'not true'.
Mr Salmond is due to give evidence to the Holyrood inquiry into the government's mishandling of harassment complaints against him. In a written submission, he alleged a 'deliberate, prolonged, malicious and concerted effort' by individuals within the Scottish government and the SNP to damage his reputation, and claimed to have 'documentary evidence' of a 'fishing expedition' to recruit complainants.
Ms Sturgeon said Mr Salmond had an 'obligation' to replace 'insinuation and assertion' with evidence. She added: 'If he can't substantiate it, it's time for him to stop making these claims - because it's not fair to women first and foremost who came forward with complaints.'
The inquiry was established after the government admitted its internal investigation of two complaints against Mr Salmond was unlawful. He was awarded over £500,000 in legal costs and later acquitted of sexual assault charges in a separate trial.
Ms Sturgeon defended her own actions, saying she would 'stand by what I said in parliament' about her meetings with Mr Salmond, and that she 'relish[ed] the opportunity' to provide details. She maintained that the government's new policy on complaints was a response to the MeToo movement, not Mr Salmond.
She expressed full confidence in Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans, Scotland's top civil servant, and said she expected her to remain in post for her current contract.
