Alex Salmond

Salmond maintained that the programme was produced by his own company, retained editorial independence and provided a platform for a range of guests. Officials from several parties, including SNP members, argued that a former First Minister was lending his credibility to Russian state media. The show continued for several years; working for RT was not in itself illegal.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

During Holyrood investigations, Salmond presented messages, chronologies and allegations against several party officials. The controversy triggered a major public break with Nicola Sturgeon. James Hamilton's independent report ultimately found that Sturgeon had not breached the Ministerial Code by misleading Parliament, although a separate parliamentary committee considered one of her accounts inaccurate without concluding that she had knowingly lied. Salmond's conspiracy allegations are therefore retained as his claims, not established fact.

Salmond maintained that Alba could win regional list seats without taking constituency seats from the SNP, thereby maximising pro-independence representation. Nicola Sturgeon and other officials rejected this strategy and challenged his attempt to return to prominence. Alba ultimately won no seats in the 2021 election. The electoral failure is a political result, not a legal sanction.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The allegations included attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent assault and came from several women who had worked in government or the SNP. Following nearly nine days of testimony, the jury returned twelve not-guilty verdicts and one Scottish 'not proven' verdict, which also constitutes an acquittal. Salmond denied the offences while acknowledging that some past conduct might have been inappropriate. The profile must unequivocally present the outcome as an acquittal on every charge.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

The government opened an internal investigation under a new procedure applicable to former ministers. Evidence from the investigation led to initial adverse findings against Salmond, but he sought judicial review of the procedure's lawfulness. In January 2019, the government acknowledged that the investigation was unlawful and tainted by apparent bias, so its findings were set aside. The initial complaints are therefore not presented as established facts.

Attribution

Directly implicated

The central problem was the role of the appointed investigator, who had prior contact with the complainants before her formal appointment. The government accepted that this created an appearance of bias invalidating the process. The findings against Salmond were set aside, and the government had to pay his legal costs, which exceeded half a million pounds. This procedural victory did not constitute a positive or negative finding on the substance of all the allegations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The regulator found that the lack of transparency about the messages' origins had misled viewers and undermined trust in a current affairs programme. Slàinte Media, Salmond's production company, challenged the proportionality and fairness of the decision and maintained that there had been no intention to mislead. The regulatory finding of a breach nevertheless remains explicit.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Salmond acknowledged planning to contact Jeremy Hunt to support the bid on the grounds of Sky jobs and investment in Scotland. Messages from a News Corp lobbyist linked this assistance to discussions about the Sun's editorial support, fuelling allegations of political bargaining. James Murdoch denied any quid pro quo, and Salmond maintained that his economic intervention was legitimate. No corruption or unlawful consideration was established.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Directly implicated

The approximately £1 billion project would occupy a coastal area containing protected dunes. Following its rejection by an Aberdeenshire council committee, the Scottish Government used its powers to 'call in' the application on grounds of national importance. John Swinney formally took the planning decision, while Salmond, also the local MSP, had publicly supported its economic benefits. Ministers considered that social and economic benefits outweighed environmental impacts and imposed conditions.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility