WRITE OUT OF ORDER

Alba figures dismiss memoir hint that late FM tipped off media on trial detail

- 

ALEX Salmond's allies have rubbished Nicola Sturgeon's claims that he leaked details about an investigation into reports of sexual misconduct against him.

Former first minister Sturgeon hints in extracts of her new book, called Frankly, that it was her predecessor who passed on details to the Daily Record.

Salmond, who died of a heart attack last October, was later cleared of 13 sexual offence charges, including attempted rape, in a criminal trial in 2020.

The row sparked the collapse of the pair’s relationship and began years of claims from former SNP leader Salmond that he was the victim of a conspiracy to destroy him.

In her memoir, Sturgeon denies releasing details about the investigation but she went on to suggest that it would have been classic Alex to have been behind the leak.

Allies of Salmond, who was leader of the rival pro-independence Alba Party before his death, reacted furiously to the claims yesterday.