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Alex Salmond Trial Verdict

(240 Posts)
SueDonim Tue 24-Mar-20 14:06:26

Not guilty on twelve charges, not proven on one. So, he’s not a sex offender. His character, however, has been revealed as unsavoury, at a minimum, even his defence counsel said as much.

I hope no one ever votes for him again, if he should seek election. I stand with those nine (*nine!*) women.

SueDonim Tue 24-Mar-20 14:06:59

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52004285

Anniebach Tue 24-Mar-20 14:17:58

Nine women lied, this makes me think of Harvey Weinstein,
the allegations against Prince Andrew .

gillybob Tue 24-Mar-20 14:22:12

I find it very odd to say the least that nine women were lying. Makes me think he' s being protected.

phoenix Tue 24-Mar-20 14:22:29

hmm

Grammaretto Tue 24-Mar-20 14:26:01

We were all saying he was seedy at my knitting gossip group. Someone had worked with him etc etc.
I think the SNP are terrified he'll come back!

trisher Tue 24-Mar-20 14:27:07

The politics behind this are complex I'm not going to comment until I know more. It does seem odd that although he is found not guilty the identities of the women remain protected. He has said there will be more information revealed after the virus outbreak has been resolved.

SueDonim Tue 24-Mar-20 14:33:05

Yes, agreed, Grammaretto. He’s soiled goods now. I think that was privately acknowledged anyway but now it’s public knowledge too. I feel so sorry for his poor wife. sad

Calendargirl Tue 24-Mar-20 14:34:51

Was his wife the lady often with him, stylish white/grey hair and glasses?

trisher Tue 24-Mar-20 14:37:32

Lots of politicians are seedy, Trump, Boris etc. Doesn't make them rapists.

Jane10 Tue 24-Mar-20 14:41:25

It's a gropers charter here in Scotland now. No point in reporting sexual harassment or attempted rape.
All those women lied, fooled the police and showed the procurator fiscal there was a case to answer. It stinks.
I gather 4 more women have now come forward which is very brave of them.

eazybee Tue 24-Mar-20 14:44:26

The charges against him did not seem to me to justify sexual assault.

That said, he is exposed as an unpleasant old lecher with deserts' disease and a very exalted idea of his power, the sort of man older women would warn younger members of staff to avoid.

Surely there can be no question of a comeback?

Jane10 Tue 24-Mar-20 14:45:37

I gather there are all sorts of moves afoot.

SueDonim Tue 24-Mar-20 14:47:16

Gropers Charter - exactly, Jane10. The SNP don’t take ownership of their sleazebags like him and Derek MacKay. They wash their hands of them.

I didn’t know until recently that my daughter uses the same supermarket as AS. She said she always gives him a wide berth.

Granny23 Tue 24-Mar-20 14:49:59

Guilty or not guilty, he is not the man I thought I knew, By his own admission he is a serial adulterer, who has cheated on his wife (the loveliest woman you could hope to meet) who has stood by him through thick and thin. Also caused damage to the party and its members who worked so hard to get him to the position of First Minister.

What is it with these men e,g, Mountbatten, Churchill, Clinton, Trump, Boris, P Andrew, Derek McKay et al, who have achieved greatness, "have it all" but have sordid private lives?

eazybee Tue 24-Mar-20 15:03:19

I don't think Mountbatten had a sordid private life, other than his early association with The Duke of Windsor.
His wife did, though.

SueDonim Tue 24-Mar-20 15:17:42

Granny23 I think maybe it’s because risk-taking is often part of the character of those who rise to the top. They then have power and they wield it against those who cannot fight back.

No one seems to have denied that there was a rule in the SNP that young women should not be left alone with AS, even if he himself didn’t know of that. Well, he wouldn’t know, would he? Who’d be brave enough to tell him?

Daddima Tue 24-Mar-20 15:26:31

Calendargirl his wife only went to court on one day last week. I think the other lady may be his sister.

Daddima Tue 24-Mar-20 15:28:29

And I think his private secretary told the court there was no rule that young ladies should not be left alone with him.

SueDonim Tue 24-Mar-20 15:33:48

Oh, she looks very frail. What a thing he has put her through at her age. sad

Jane10 Tue 24-Mar-20 15:43:15

It was reported ages ago that Edinburgh Airport management will not allow lone females to escort him from planes to the lounges. Wonder why??!!!

Jabberwok Tue 24-Mar-20 15:44:11

I don't think Churchill had a sordid private life! He and Clemmie were devoted to each other, although the partnership did go through a couple of rocky patches, which isn't bad in such a long marriage. Son Randolph on the other hand!!!!!

Daisymae Tue 24-Mar-20 15:47:07

Yes, the question was put to Nicola Sturgeon on TV last night whether it was correct that the there was some sort of rule that women should not be alone with him. I think she said something about some sort of enquiry.

Brunette10 Tue 24-Mar-20 15:48:08

I have to say I was not in the least bit surprised at the verdict yesterday, although very disappointed. He had a very good, if not exceptional legal team and indeed his barrister Gordon Jackson is widely known in the court circuit as an outstanding courtroom performer. Enough said.

Rosalyn69 Tue 24-Mar-20 15:48:48

I have a friend who used to work as one of AS’s speechwriters. She said was he was a thoroughly unpleasant man but never mentioned any sexual improprieties.
Wasn’t Mr Churchill a functioning alcoholic?