{UAH} Nicola Sturgeon says allegations of sexual harassment against Alex Salmond could not be 'swept under the carpet'

Frank Mujabi/ Edward p'Ojim/ Akim Jags/ Ikanos/ Gwokto

Here is this so-called "Me-Too Movement" threatening to end the political career of Mr Alex Salmond, moreover at the hands of a government he himself almost single-handedly fought for and put in place. What an irony that a government he spent more than 50 years of his life struggling to establish will be the one that  ends his illustrious political career.. I am not a supporter of the "Me-Too Movement" as it has been abused by vengeful women to bring men down. There is some behaviour by men in the past that was never considered to be sexual harrasment. Today, you can be accused  and convicted of rape if a woman asks you to stop having sex with her because she is no longer enjoying it or has lost the mood. It looks like society will have to regulate relations between men and women in sealed contracts, with millions of pages in small print. That's the time then when sexbots will take over- or more men will be tempted into homosexuality because they couldn't be bothered with women any longer because of the bother.

Bobby

Nicola Sturgeon says allegations of sexual harassment against Alex Salmond could not be 'swept under the carpet'

3 hrs ago

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© Provided by Local News RSS EN-GB Alex Salmond is planning a civil action against the Scottish Government - PANicola Sturgeon has insisted that allegations of sexual harassment against Alex Salmond could not be ignored or swept under the carpet, as it emerged that her predecessor had hoped to stop the revelations being made public.

She said she had been aware for "some time" of the investigation into Mr Salmond but had no role in the process.

She also said that her relationship with the former first minister, who was her mentor for a decade before she succeeded him in 2014, made the situation "extremely difficult" for her to come to terms with.

Two individuals have made allegations of sexual assault against Mr Salmond, which he denies, with one incident said to have taken place in Bute House, the first minister's official resident in Edinburgh, in December 2013. He resigned as first minister in September 2014 after losing the independence referendum.

© Getty Nicola Sturgeon said it was a difficult situation for her and her partyMs Sturgeon revealed that the complaints were made in January, and since then have been considered under a procedure covering ministers and former ministers that was agreed by her in December in the wake of widespread public concern over issues of harassment.

She added: "Although I have been aware for some time of the fact of the investigation – initially from Alex Salmond – I have had no role in the process, and to have referred to it before now would have compromised the integrity of the internal investigation, which I was not prepared to do.

Statement from Alex Salmond pic.twitter.com/DUOTS7MriX

— Alex Salmond (@AlexSalmond) August 23, 2018

"However, I was informed by the Permanent Secretary earlier this week that she had completed her investigation and that she intended to make the fact of the complaints public."

Mr Salmond issued a lengthy statement on Thursday night denying the allegations and saying he planned to go to Scotland's highest civil court to challenge the way the Scottish Government – which he formerly led – had dealt with the case.

Ms Sturgeon said the government refuted his criticisms of its procedures and would "defend its position vigorously".

 She added: "However, this focus on process cannot deflect from the fact that complaints were made that could not be ignored or swept under the carpet.

 "I have been clear on many occasions that all organisations and workplaces must make it possible for people to come forward to report concerns and have confidence that they will be treated seriously.  For that principle to mean anything it cannot be applied selectively.

© Getty STANFORD, CA - APRIL 04: First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon speaks during an event at Stanford University on April 4, 2017 in Stanford, California. Nicola Sturgeon spoke to students and academics at Stanford University in a talk titled 'Scotland's Place in the World.' (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)"It must be applied without fear or favour, regardless of the identity, seniority or political allegiance of the person involved."

Mr Salmond lost his Westminster seat in last year's general election but remains a hugely popular figure in the Yes movement, and the First Minister said she was "acutely aware" how upsetting the situation was for the SNP.

 Leslie Evans, the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government, and the principal policy adviser to Ms Sturgeon, also issued a detailed statement saying Mr Salmond was notified of the complaints in March.

She added that she told the former first minister and the complainants on Wednesday this week that she had decided to make the issue public.

© Getty FILE: First Minister Alex Salmond speaks at the London School of Economics, London. (Photo by Rebecca Naden/PA Images via Getty Images)She said the Mr Salmond then instigated legal proceedings on Thursday, which had delayed that statement. However, he had since dropped the proceedings and she was therefore able to confirm the complaints against him.

According to the Daily Record, Mr Salmond was planning to seek an interdict on Friday intended to gag the Scottish Government.

He plans to continue with a separate civil case, at a later date, to challenge the way the case has been handled by the government.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said it would not comment on "whether an inquiry is ongoing

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