TEXTS, PLOTTING .. AND REVENGE

Communication reveals high-ranking SNP figures conspired in a campaign to see the former first minister jailed for sex offences

- BY JOHN FERGUSON

BOMBSHELL text messages showing high-ranking SNP figures conspiring against ex-leader Alex Salmond are today revealed by the Sunday Mail.

The tranche of communication - which was previously put before a court but not aired publicly - appears to show senior party operatives involved in a campaign to see the former first minister jailed for sex offences.

The messages cover a four-month period between September 2018 and January 2019 during which an “unlawful” and “biased” Scottish Government misconduct probe against Salmond collapsed, and police began a criminal investigation.

The late SNP leader was ultimately cleared of 13 charges at Edinburgh High Court in March 2020, leading to claims of a plot to destroy him.

In a pretrial court hearing, Salmond's defence lawyer Gordon Jackson KC, told Lady Dorrian there were texts between complainants, Scottish Government officials and SNP members that raised questions about an orchestration of some of the allegations.

Mr Jackson sought to get some of that material which is contained within the documents - admitted into evidence.

He told Lady Dorrian the defence believed "there was a concerted effort made by people in the government to influence the process, to get it as best they could in terms of criminal prosecution".

He alleged those efforts were motivated by revenge because Salmond had won his judicial review in January 2019, after the Scottish Government admitted it had botched an internal inquiry into two sexual harassment complaints against him.

Lady Dorrian refused to allow much of that material to be used in court but allowed other messages to be admitted as evidence.