Holyrood Committe publish Alex Salmond written evidence

Alex Salmond has claimed the "inescapable conclusion" is that there was a "malicious and concerted" attempt to see him removed from public life.

The submission by the former First Minister was published by the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints on Monday evening.

Mr Salmond names people he alleges to have been part of efforts to damage his reputation - including Nicola Sturgeon's husband and chief of staff - as well as describing the Crown Office as "not fit for purpose" under its current leadership.

He said: "The inescapable conclusion is of a malicious and concerted attempt to damage my reputation and remove me from public life in Scotland.

"It is an attempt which would, in fact, have succeeded but for the protection of the court and jury system and in particular the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary.

"However, underlying all of this and perhaps the most serious issue of all is the complete breakdown of the necessary barriers which should exist between Government, political party and indeed the prosecution authorities in any country which abides by the rule of law.

"I leave to others the question of what is, or is not, a conspiracy but am very clear in my position that the evidence supports a deliberate, prolonged, malicious and concerted effort amongst a range of individuals within the Scottish Government and the SNP to damage my reputation, even to the extent of having me imprisoned.

"That includes, for the avoidance of doubt, Peter Murrell (chief executive), Ian McCann (compliance officer) and Sue Ruddick (chief operating officer) of the SNP together with Liz Lloyd, the First Minister's Chief of Staff.

"There are others who, for legal reasons, I am not allowed to name."

He added: "The real cost to the Scottish people runs into many millions of pounds and yet no-one in this entire process has uttered the simple words which are necessary on occasions to renew and refresh democratic institutions - 'I Resign'.

"The Committee now has the opportunity to address that position."

Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon has claimed there is "not a shred of evidence" that Mr Salmond can show to prove there was a conspiracy against him.

The former First Minister has alleged his successor has misled Parliament and breached the ministerial code.

The committee is probing the Scottish Government's botched handling of harassment allegations against him - which saw Mr Salmond win a £512,000 payout following a case at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

MSPs previously decided against publishing the submission the former first minister made to a separate inquiry, which is considering whether Ms Sturgeon breached the ministerial code.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) then concluded "on balance" it would be "possible" for the document to be published.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "What we have not seen is a shred of evidence to back these wild claims up.

"Now, in front of the Parliament, the burden of proof is on Alex Salmond.

"It is time for insinuation and assertion to be replaced with actual evidence.

"And if, as I fully expect, there is no evidence, because there was no conspiracy, then people will draw their own conclusions."

The former SNP leader claims in his latest published submission that evidence held by the Crown Office is being blocked from the Committee.

The former first minister said: "Despite that deplorable prohibition, I can confirm that all of the material factual statements made in this submission are supported by documentary evidence.

"Where I am legally allowed to direct the Committee to such documents, I will be happy to do so."

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