Bombshell text messages have revealed high-ranking SNP figures conspiring against former leader Alex Salmond, according to the Sunday Mail. The communications, previously before a court but not publicly aired, appear to show senior party operatives involved in a campaign to see Salmond jailed for sex offences. The messages cover a four-month period between September 2018 and January 2019, during which an 'unlawful' and 'biased' Scottish Government misconduct probe against Salmond collapsed, and police began a criminal investigation.
Salmond was ultimately cleared of 13 charges at Edinburgh High Court in March 2020, leading to claims of a plot to destroy him. In a pre-trial hearing, Salmond’s defence lawyer Gordon Jackson KC told Lady Dorrian there were text messages between complainants, Scottish government officials and SNP officials that raised questions about an orchestration of some of the allegations. Jackson sought to admit some of that material into evidence, alleging 'there was a concerted effort made by people in the government to influence the process, to get it as best they could in terms of criminal prosecution'. He alleged those efforts were motivated by revenge because Salmond had won his judicial review in January 2019, after the Scottish government admitted it had botched an internal inquiry into two sexual harassment complaints against him.
Former SNP Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has called for a police investigation. He said: 'I’ve always believed individuals at the heart of the SNP and Scottish Government conspired to bring Alex down because they were worried he was going to make a return to Holyrood and they didn’t want that to happen. These messages confirm my suspicions. There should be a police inquiry and public inquiry into this entire affair, it strikes at the heart of our democracy.'
The text exchanges, believed to have been sent on WhatsApp, include a senior figure asking another if she has 'An Alex story'. She responds: 'If I do I don’t remember - wandering hands, some shouting, but not really...I think I wasn’t his type...' Another woman states: 'How have they got my name? Must be ****. I’ll kill her.' After news breaks that Salmond has been charged in January 2019, one woman complained: 'Police say mine not on list as. It enough evidence(sic). Yet. Felt like asking what they need and I’ll get it for them!' Another woman who appeared to have spoken to police states: 'I speak for myself here - I don’t think what happened to me would constitute an offence.' In another message she added: 'Tbh, what happened to me didn’t particularly bother me at the time but I felt it was important to back up the other women.'
On the same day Salmond was charged, one of his accusers writes: 'He is going to jail. And I’m ******* glad...was considering briefing media...good move by police to do this now then we are all protected by contempt of court.' Another text reads: 'Jeez. Think **** is in trouble… Salmond isn’t going to stop until he gets her and he’s bringing down Nicola on the way.' Some of the messages were previously alluded to in 2021 by Tory MP David Davis, who alleged a plot to take down the former first minister.
