Police in Scotland have received a “non-recent” allegation of sexual assault made against the late Alex Salmond, the former leader of the Alba Party. Mr. Salmond passed away on October 12 due to a heart attack during a political visit to North Macedonia, with his funeral held on October 29 in Strichen, Aberdeenshire. Previously, Mr. Salmond served as the first minister of Scotland from 2007-2014 under the Scottish National Party (SNP) government, resigning in 2018 following several allegations of sexual misconduct which he was later cleared of in 2020.
After reports of the new allegation surfaced, the Alba Party general secretary, Chris McEleny, labelled them as “smears” and called on the Scottish Government to allow Mr. Salmond to “rest in peace”. Mr. McEleny expressed that the previous allegations against Mr. Salmond were rejected by a majority female jury and highlighted concerns about the actions of the SNP led by Nicola Sturgeon and her husband, Peter Murrell. The SNP and the Scottish Government were contacted for comments regarding the latest development.
This new development reignites past controversies surrounding Mr. Salmond and adds to the complexity of his legacy. The allegations against him have raised questions about the handling of sexual assault allegations within political circles and have once again brought the spotlight on the accusations that have shadowed Mr. Salmond’s career for years.
Despite the legal outcomes of previous allegations, the emergence of a new accusation highlights the ongoing debate around accountability, transparency, and justice in cases of sexual assault involving high-profile figures. With investigations ongoing, it remains to be seen how this latest development will impact the reputation and memory of Alex Salmond in the broader political landscape.