Nicola Sturgeon disclosed that Alex Salmond embarked on what she described as a 'revenge mission' following investigations into alleged sexual misconduct, according to newly released documents from an ethics probe. The former First Minister made these remarks during questioning by watchdog James Hamilton in February 2021, as he examined whether she misled parliament about a crucial April 2018 meeting.
Profound Shock and Personal Regret
Ms Sturgeon informed Mr Hamilton she was 'profoundly shocked' when Mr Salmond first told her about the claims against him during a meeting at her Glasgow residence. 'It was an account of something that was deeply inappropriate and it shocked me deeply at the time. I will remember that sense of shock for a long time,' she stated during the interview.
With evident remorse, she added: 'With hindsight, I wish I had never had any discussion with him about it because it has caused me nothing but pain and grief.' These comments were initially excerpted in Mr Hamilton's subsequent report, which cleared Ms Sturgeon of breaching the Scottish ministerial code, but the complete version has now emerged in a substantial 4,700-page 'data dump' of the controversial Salmond files.
Legal Pressure and Transparency Demands
The Scottish Government faced mounting pressure to release these documents, with Scottish Information Commissioner David Hamilton ordering disclosure by 15 January under threat of contempt of court proceedings. Ministers argued they required additional time to redact information that might identify complainers from Mr Salmond's separate 2020 criminal trial, who are entitled to anonymity.
Mr Salmond, who passed away in 2024 at age 69, faced allegations from two female civil servants in 2018, triggering a flawed internal Scottish Government investigation. This inquiry was later set aside after court proceedings revealed it as unfair, unlawful, and 'tainted by apparent bias,' resulting in taxpayers covering £512,000 of his legal costs.
Parliamentary Controversy and Conflicting Accounts
Ms Sturgeon originally told MSPs she first learned of the allegations when Mr Salmond personally informed her at her home. However, she later acknowledged she had actually been told four days earlier in her Holyrood office by Mr Salmond's former chief of staff, a revelation she claimed slipped her mind due to being 'so busy.'
A politically divided Holyrood committee concluded she had misled parliament—an offense typically requiring resignation—but Mr Hamilton's contrary verdict enabled her to remain in position. During her interview with the ethics watchdog, Ms Sturgeon recalled Mr Salmond appearing 'pretty shaken' in late 2017 when Sky News investigated alleged misconduct by him at Edinburgh airport.
Emotional Reactions and Strategic Concerns
She claimed Mr Salmond warned that if a story published, 'you get one and the flood gates open,' before hastily insisting nothing improper occurred. Nevertheless, she said this left her feeling 'a hornets nest had been stirred.' Later, when he informed her he was being investigated by her government over alleged misconduct, Ms Sturgeon described him as 'very agitated and upset,' while she felt both 'angry' and sympathetic toward him.
Ms Sturgeon characterized Mr Salmond as 'somebody that likes to take control of situations' who feared he might 'go public' and 'proclaim his innocence.' Defending herself against his accusation that she misled parliament, she asserted: 'Mr Salmond is, and it's a matter of great personal grief to me, he's on a bit of a revenge mission right now.' She then inquired when Mr Hamilton's probe would conclude, expressing gratitude when he indicated it would finish before the 2021 Holyrood election.
Opposition Criticism and Government Defense
Opposition parties have strongly criticized John Swinney's government for the prolonged delay in releasing the material and for extensive redactions. Tory MSP Murdo Fraser declared: 'The SNP should not have had to be dragged kicking and screaming into finally agreeing to release these documents. This whole episode has smacked of Nationalist secrecy from the start.'
Scottish Labour deputy Dame Jackie Baillie added: 'John Swinney and the SNP have fought this every step of the way, spending eyewatering amounts of taxpayer money in court trying to bury these documents. This debacle is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the rotten culture of secrecy and cover-up at the heart of this SNP government.'
A Government spokesman responded: 'Extensive work has taken place to review these documents and ensure that as much information as possible can be placed in the public domain. The courts have made it clear that those who complained in relation to allegations of sexual assault must have their identities protected. The Scottish Government is not permitted to release information which would breach those court orders.'
