FORMER First Minister Alex Salmond has told supporters that some people are "very anxious to remove me as a political threat", in a comment made after winning his Judicial Review at the Court of Session.

The Scottish Government conceded defeat in its legal battle against Salmond earlier this week, an admission that its probe into two claims of harassment against him – which he has denied – was flawed.

Salmond posted a message to those who donated to his fundraiser for the court action, thanking them for their backing, and suggested that the identity of the person who leaked details of complaints against him to the media was closer to being revealed.

However, he added that possible plotting against him meant the matter had not yet concluded for good.

In the statement, Salmond wrote: "I have been in public life in Scotland for 30 years. Over that entire time I have had an unblemished record in terms of personal conduct, despite being perhaps the most investigated politician on these islands.

"Some people are clearly very anxious to remove me now as a political threat which is why this is probably not over. The Daily Record boasted of a “tip off” about me in October 2017. The question is from who? Perhaps we are now getting very close to finding out."

Salmond has called on Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans, the top civil servant in Scotland, to take responsibility by resigning for the "institutional failure" in handling the complaints against him.

The legal costs for the Scottish taxpayer as a result of the case could amount to £500,000.

Summing up the proceedings and explaining what would be done with the extra cash raised in his crowdfunder, the former First Minister said: "The Court has accepted that the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government’s decisions were 'unlawful', 'unfair' and 'tainted by apparent bias'. The legal victory was overwhelming, despite attempts by the Permanent Secretary to spin her way into saving her own job.

"The legal costs of the action which will have to be paid by the Scottish Government are massive – perhaps half a million pounds or even more – a bill sent to the people of Scotland as a result of the Permanent Secretary’s incompetent procedure. That means in turn since we are refunded around two thirds of our costs, there is still likely to be a surplus in the crowdfunder.

"As you remember I promised in these circumstances that any surplus would go to good causes in Scotland and beyond. That will now be done, when the calculation of expenses is complete. I have arranged for this all to be independently audited and in due course I will send an update to you."

In a statement made on the day the court was informed of the Scottish Government's decision to stand dwon, Evans admitted the investigation was "in one respect only (albeit an important one) ... procedurally flawed".

She added: "The Scottish Government has acted in good faith at all times and will continue to do so. It was right and proper that these complaints were investigated and I stand by the decision to carry out that investigation. 

"It is also important to note that the procedural flaw in the investigation does not have implications, one way or the other, for the substance of the complaints or the credibility of the complainers. The Judicial Review was never about the substance of the complaints, but about the process that took place to investigate those complaints.

"It is accordingly open to the Scottish Government to re-investigate the complaints and, subject to the views of the complainants, it would be our intention to consider this - however, this will only be once ongoing police inquiries have concluded.  

"Meantime I have commissioned an internal review of the specific application of this one element of the procedure. We shall learn and apply the lessons of this case to any future complaint addressed under our internal procedure.

"My priority remains the duty of care to my staff, including anyone in the organisation who brings forward any concerns about inappropriate conduct, regardless of the identity or seniority of the individual complained about. 

"Finally I would reiterate that the single procedural flaw which led to this decision is deeply regrettable. In particular, I regret the distress it will cause to the two women who raised the complaints."