Allegations against Alex Salmond.

According to what I read in yesterday's Sunday Times, he is accused of unwanted hugging, kissing, touching breasts, massaging shoulders, etc. One of his accusers is named.

The article also directly quotes him as saying he's 'no saint'.

It's a conundrum isn't it. I'm surprised the question about why women (men/children) make this kind of allegations immediately after the even is still asked. That subject has been endlessly discussed in recent years, with the conclusion that some people/children are so distressed and also so certain their complaint won't be believed, they keep quiet. The issue interferes with their lives, their relationships and soon and eventually some, though by no means all, speak out.
Yes some allegations are false. So far as we know, the majority are genuine.
We don't have the information to decide one way or the other about Alex Salmon. I hope he is supported by his loved ones, friends and colleagues. Carl Sergeant,former first minister in Wales, committed suicide when facing allegations.

Carl Sergeant wasn’t a former first minister in Wales he was a cabinet secretary Iam ?

Did this not come to light in a questionnaire circulated to all staff? I remember reading that this has been done but was bring disparaged because 'only' 2 cases had been found. It may have been a completely different survey though. It just vaguely rang a bell.

As the incidents in question happened at Bute House I expect that there must be a fairly limited number of people who must have complained. They must be known to many - poor things. Nasty business all round whatever has actually happened.

Thanks anniebach,sorry for my error.

I am surprised that no-one has mentioned the fact that Alex Salmond has set up a crowdfunding page to pay for legal action against the Scottish Government. He wants a judicial review into how the accusations against him were handled.

He has raised £100,000 (twice his target) and has closed the crowdfunding appeal.

Mr Salmond started the crowdfunding page because people asked how they could donate to help with the Judicial Review costs .Its NOT for the allegations.He stated that any monies not used will be distributed to charities and good causes in Scotland.
Mr Salmond already donates a huge portion of his salary EVERY YEAR ,to charity and has for a long time.When he was both an MP and an MSP one of his salaries was donated in its entirety.As a supporter of Alex I have donated to the crowdfunder as have many people I know .

The way this has been handled is appalling,the dossier of 36 thats THIRTY SIX tories accused of being sex pests or harrassing staff etc wasn't all over the media in the same way .Can we expect Amber Rudd and Mrs May to "lose " these files as they "lost" previous ones ?Or will they ever become front page news and ruin reputations before going to court ?

He could of course have left it to run ,the Clara Ponsati page raised over a quarter of a million as far as I remember .And yes I donated to that too .

Good gracious Paddyann. You donated to his crowd funding page. Who'd have thought it?!
Sorry I couldn't be bothered to put sections of this post in CAPITALS!

Any leader or manager will always have to make decisions wether to discipline, demote, dismiss or direct staff this leaves them open to accusations of bias, bullying or harassment. Especially by sensitive groups where sexist, racist, ageist accusations can be made, 5 yrs on they are very difficult to prove or disprove.
An accusation of wrongdoing is to be made do it immediately or move on and live with it.

Men have faced charges of sexual abuse after 20 years.

PADDYANN My post about Alex Salmond setting up a crowdfunding page, to which you replied, was entirely factual and not biased or partisan in any way. I merely stated the facts as reported in The Guardian.

Alex Salmond has closed a crowdfunding appeal to fund a judicial review of the Scottish government’s handling of sexual harassment allegations against him

If you think that is FAKE NEWS then please COMPLAIN VERY LOUDLY to:

www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/01/snp-seeks-to-refocus-on-policies-amid-salmond-allegations

So WHY you have to SHOUT in your response to me IS BEWILDERING.

Or is that how you normally go about your day, SHOUTING and RANTING?

I find that rather ODD considering what BUSINESS you told us you have.

Other news media have not been so kind:

Alex Salmond has been accused of "dragging Scotland into the gutter" for crowdfunding a legal bid to challenge the handling of sexual harassment allegations against him.
news.sky.com/story/alex-salmond-accused-of-dragging-scotland-into-gutter-as-crowdfunding-bid-passes-target-11485396

paddyann

Re your post Sat 01-Sep-18 23:51:10.

" Your last paragraph is exactly why I said about the Alex Salmond scenario.

" That is a principal that many MP's have come up against but it hasn't stopped the kangaroo court who usually behave in an accusatory manner , sometimes verging on slander to promote their political allegiance.

The worst of them all was the Westminster Peadophile Ring accusations that were based on lies, political point scoring and the public being spurred on by those who see Social Class to be ' fair game "

I think Alex Salmond has certainly made a name for himself away from the SNP as has Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh. Whether it be his ' unleashed ' show and likewise the Alex Salmond Show on Russia Today etc. a new career path opened.

Now he has resigned from the SNP and chosen the route of crowd funding I do wonder if that may sway opinions but for those such as yourself that has been done and viewed as an admirable choice he has made so maybe I am wrong in thinking others might see it differently.

I hope Alex Salmond gets a fair hearing, unlike so many politicians who have had their reputation and lives destroyed by the kangaroo court and political foul play as we have noted . Perhaps there are those who should reflect on what they have said about others in this predicament in the past.

am confused by your post paddyann the one which says
of Nichola Sturgeon 'Can't stand the woman, she has been a total disaster for Scotland and the whole of the UK and I have no idea why anyone voted for her and her loathesome party of incompetents' etc
Now, you may well be right about that, plenty would agree,
but I thought you admired her?

I, too, am now I have looked back at that post.

Perhaps Paddyann is quoting someone else but didn't use the ^^

I think Paddyann was talking about Theresa May! No surprise there!!!!??

One of his accusers is named.
Interesting Riverwalk

I do think it is most unfair when someone (usually a man) is accused of impropriety, named and often 'shamed' when the victim/accuser can remain anonymous.

Even if proven innocent, people will still mutter that 'there is no smoke without fire' etc

It has been pointed out to me today that the civil servants involved are not employed by the Scottish Government per se but rather by the 'Scotland Office' whose Boss is the Secretary of State for Scotland, currently the Tory David Mundell, who was elevated to this position during the last Parliament when he was the only Tory who represented a Scottish Constituency. The Secretary of State for Scotland has been described as 'Scotland's Man at Westminster' or alternatively 'Westminsters man in Scotland' .

"The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland supports the Secretary of State in promoting the best interests of Scotland within a stronger United Kingdom. It ensures Scottish interests are fully and effectively represented at the heart of the UK Government, and the UK Government’s responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Scotland."

In the early days of the Scottish Parliament with Labour in control of the Scottish and UK Governments, there was a cosy relationship between the S of S and the parliament but the gloves came off when there was an SNP controlled SG and a Tory Government at Westminster. The relationship has been acrimonious ever since.

This realisation has edged me into the camp of those who believe that there has been 'dirty work at the crossroads' including the leaks to the so called 'Scottish Press' which is editorially controlled and owned furth of Scotland.

think you'll find that I was talking about Teresa May .Silly me didn't put the name of the poster I was replying to

Granny23 its a stitch up ,soley to get Alex out of the way when the new date for Indy ref2 is announced .WE know it ,the press know it and the Scottish Office which really has no interest in Scotland apart from our income knows it.Well they would since its all of their doing !

From Granny23's post :

"Part of the legal argument is that AS is no longer 'employed' by the SG and these new rules were not in force when he was. Also as an ex employee he has no right to know the details of the complaint nor to challenge them within the system."

Surely he can't be treated as an employee and subject to the rules, while also being treated as an ex-employee who can't be given any details?
There should be consistency there.

Oh well so that's all right then. Grope away boys!!
Women won't dare complain now.

Of course, it's a stitch up [ why? ] How about waiting to see....it may well Not be a stitch up!
Can't believe he asked for crowd funding, what a cheek.

I don't know who you are addressing in your last post but I will answer on my behalf.

You can have no idea the turmoil I have been in over the past week or so. As a life long feminist, 18.5 years as a worker at Women's Aid and campaigner for women's rights, my natural reaction is to believe the complainers and support their bravery in coming forward.

But, But, But....................

In this case I do not know the complainers, nor the substance of the complaints. I do know the accused and have done for some 40 years. I also know his wife, Moira. I have had the big hug from AS on more than one occasion and have never felt it to be inappropriate or OTT. I have been trying to find the right word for AS's manner - the closest I can get is 'Avuncular'.

I also have friendships with many women in the SNP. All feisty, feminist women who would not be backward in coming forward if they had any reason to complain about a man irregardless of his position, be it ordinary member, candidate, Party Leader or First Minister. In fact the Convener of my own Branch was reported and flung out of the party 30+ years ago for touchy feely behaviour. The SNP, in common with any large organisation, has had examples of misogyny/abuse and has dealt with them promptly and severely.

However, in the case of Alex Salmond, I can say, hand on heart, that I have never, ever heard so much as a whisper about any questionable behaviour, neither from his fans nor those who belong to other factions within the party. The only place I have encountered hints of the nudge, nudge, wink wink variety is in the mainstream media e.g the supposed relationship between Alex and Tasmina Ahmed Sheik, illustrated with a photograph of them laughing together at a restaurant table in Italy. What was missing from the picture was the two other people who were also sitting at the table laughing. They had been carefully cropped out.

Hence my turmoil. Do I trust my own instincts about this man whom I have known for so long, or stick with my preset stance of always supporting the victim of abuse? The only way I can resolve this dilemma is if this is a put up job, designed to create a 'no smoke without fire' stench around a prominent player in the SNP and broader YES campaign. Time will tell, but the damage has already been done.