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£100k and out: Alex Salmond closes fund as former First Minister presses on with legal fight

Alex Salmond (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Alex Salmond (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

ALEX SALMOND’S appeal to raise funds for his legal fight against the Scottish Government yesterday reached more than double its target.

The former First Minister announced he was closing his online crowd-funding site after it raised £100,007 in less than 72 hours.

Some 4,146 donors – including an SNP MSP, councillors and long-standing party members – gave to the fund in a gesture of support for the veteran politician after he announced he was taking the Scottish Government to court.

Others including one of the SNP’s wealthiest backers, construction magnate Dan Macdonald, and former MP Michelle Thomson, shared their support on social media in a sign of how the case is dividing opinion within the independence movement.

Mr Salmond sensationally quit the SNP last week after more than four decades of membership, after it emerged that two civil servants made allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

The police are now investigating the allegations. However, the politician has refuted them and denied “any suggestion of criminality”. He plans a legal challenge to the Scottish Government’s internal investigation.

Closing the fund, Mr Salmond said: “Many thanks to the thousands of people who have come forward with support. We will now press on with the challenge to the lawfulness of the procedure.

“All funds will be used exclusively to support the judicial review.”

SNP National Council member and long-serving party member Dorothy Jessiman and her husband James donated £200. In a Facebook post, Mrs Jessiman said she and her husband had a “special reason for contributing.”

She said the former MP had helped the pair and as a result they had joined the SNP more than 30 years ago.

President of the Scottish Asians for Independence group, Abdul Majid, contributed cash, as well as domestic abuse expert Dr Mairead Tagg.

The clinical psychologist said she had done so “because of my deep concerns about how this has been handled.” Dr Tagg added: “I think that when the alleged perpetrator is raising concerns about the breach of confidentiality in respect of his alleged victims and expressing concerns about the need for a fair process to investigate such complaints, something is very far wrong.

“He is in my view quite correctly taking serious issue with the way that these complaints have been addressed.”

South Ayrshire SNP councillor Julie Dettbarn, who was suspended from the party earlier this year after tweeting a racist phrase, but was later reinstated after apologising, contributed £50.

When contacted by The Sunday Post, councillor Dettbarn initially said she “didn’t have any comment to make”, before adding: “I don’t like my actions being scrutinised in this way.

“It’s my business and nobody else’s.”

Others had taken to social media to tweet their support, or retweet comments in support of Mr Salmond.

Commercial property tycoon and one of the SNP’s biggest donors, Dan Macdonald of Macdonald Estates, said he was “heartbroken and astonished” to read of the allegations facing Mr Salmond.

The businessman, who donated £50,000 towards the Yes campaign in 2014, said: “There is a reaction because it is something we have just learned, but hopefully by next we week we will get on with things that are more important.”

The wealthy independence supporter added that he had not spoken to Mr Salmond since the news of the allegations emerged, and said: “If two women have made allegations, then it should be, of course, investigated.

“Under no circumstances should any of that be swept under the carpet, but I hope that the allegations are ill-founded.

Michelle Thomson, former SNP MP, retweeted messages in support of Mr Salmond, but when contacted by our reporter, said: “I have got the utmost respect for Alex, but due process has to be followed.”


The story so far

January 2018

Two women lodge complaints of sexual misconduct against Alex Salmond. In March Mr Salmond is informed of the complaints and told how they would be investigated.

August 22

The Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Government tells Mr Salmond that the complaints may be made public after the investigation has been concluded.

August 23

News of the allegations and police investigation are released by a newspaper, and Mr Salmond issues a statement refuting them. He also announces he is taking the Scottish Government to court over its handling of the investigation.

August 24

Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans says there are “significant inaccuracies” in Mr Salmond’s statement. Nicola Sturgeon releases a statement saying she has had “no role” in the investigation.

August 25

Details of one of the complaints emerges. Mr Salmond said he will be making no comment until the hearing in court has taken place.

August 26

Nicola Sturgeon says Mr Salmond cannot be suspended by the SNP as the complaints aren’t being investigated by the party, and the SNP has not received any complaints.

August 28

Mr Salmond’s petition is lodged in the Court of Session.

August 29

Mr Salmond announces he is quitting the SNP, and launches an online crowdfunding appeal to raise £50,000 to support his legal challenge.

August 31

Nicola Sturgeon says there should not be “one rule for the powerful” and urges politicians to remember the two women at the centre of the allegations. The Scottish Government receives legal notice of the petition against it.

September 1

The online fundraising drive is closed, with Alex Salmond thanking donors after raising more than double the original £50,000 target – a total of £100,007.