THE SNP has accused Labour of ignoring “due process” and using allegations of sexual misconduct against Alex Salmond to “score political points”.
The response came after Labour’s equality spokesperson Pauline McNeill alleged the SNP had covered up concerns about the former First Minister.
Sky News reported yesterday that bosses at Edinburgh Airport had told Angus Robertson in 2008 that female staff members had complained about "alleged inappropriate behaviour” by Salmond.
No official complaint was ever received by the airport’s management and Salmond denies all claims of wrongdoing.
The broadcaster approached Robertson, who was the SNP’s leader in Westminster at the time, and asked him: “What did you do when you were told about Alex Salmond’s behaviour at Edinburgh Airport?”
He replied: “There are ongoing processes and... I’m not making any more comment.”
Labour’s McNeill called it “a shocking revelation”.
She said: “We already know that Nicola Sturgeon continued to meet Alex Salmond while he was being investigated by the Scottish Government over sexual harassment allegations. Now it seems former SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson was explicitly told about these concerns by officials at Edinburgh Airport.
“The SNP must explain urgently whether Mr Robertson, one of the most senior SNP politicians, passed these concerns on to party officials and what – if any – action was taken by the SNP in light of those concerns.”
Sky News also said it first approached the SNP for comment in November 2017 but, at that time, the party did not respond.
Yesterday, the SNP said: “We cannot comment on complaints about Alex Salmond while police inquiries are ongoing. The opposition should be adhering to due process, rather than trying to score political points.”
A spokesman for Salmond said: “Mr Salmond denies all suggestions of misconduct at any time and suggests that everyone should allow the police inquiries to take their proper course without briefing or breaching confidentiality.
“Alex has not been interviewed by police about any matter. He is content to have his case against the Scottish Government stated in the Court of Session in January.”
It emerged in August that two women had made complaints to the Scottish Government about Salmond.
The politician started legal action after Scottish Government permanent secretary Leslie Evans told him she intended to make a public statement about these complaints.
Salmond, who has since resigned from the SNP, is seeking a judicial review of how the complaint process was conducted. The Scottish Government’s most senior legal officer, Lord Advocate James Wolffe, advised that the matter be referred to Police Scotland, who are conducting their own investigation.
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