Nicola Sturgeon Absent from Alex Salmond Condolence Debate

Nicola Sturgeon was absent from a Holyrood debate where Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) offered condolences for Alex Salmond. Sturgeon, who succeeded Salmond as first minister, had been a close political ally and long-time friend until their relationship deteriorated due to her government’s handling of harassment allegations against him. When questioned about her attendance at the condolence motion, she stated she could not “pretend that the events of the past few years did not happen”. First Minister John Swinney informed the chamber that Salmond had “left an indelible mark on Scotland”. Salmond passed away at the age of 69 earlier this month while participating in a conference in North Macedonia. Following his death, Sturgeon paid tribute, remarking that the two had “formed one of the most successful partnerships in UK politics” for over a decade. Prior to the motion of condolence, she mentioned she had been “wrestling” with how to appropriately show respect in a manner that felt right to her without “distract[ing] from the grief of Alex’ family”. She stated: “Weighing all this up, I have concluded that it is best for me to remember Alex privately.” She indicated that she would instead observe the motion of condolence online. She further commented: “I appreciate that others in my position might make different decisions, but sometimes doing what feels most right is the best any of us can do.” Earlier in the chamber, leaders of Scottish political parties recounted their memories of Salmond and extended their condolences to his family and friends. His burial took place near his residence in Aberdeenshire on Tuesday. Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone was the initial speaker to offer a tribute, noting that Mr Salmond’s “contribution to the development and life of this Parliament is an integral part of our history”. First Minister John Swinney then spoke, with his motion acknowledging “the substantial and significant contribution” Salmond had made. Salmond and Sturgeon formed an effective political partnership for over 10 years until their dispute commenced in 2018, following allegations of sexual harassment against him. These complaints, which Salmond denied, emerged after Sturgeon requested the implementation of new government policies concerning sexual harassment in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement. Salmond was of the opinion that this policy targeted him. The Scottish government ultimately conceded it had acted unlawfully and was required to cover Salmond’s legal expenses, exceeding £500,000. Salmond alleged that officials associated with Sturgeon, including her husband Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, had conspired against him. All individuals denied these accusations. Subsequently, in January 2019, Mr Salmond was apprehended and faced charges for numerous counts of sexual assault, including attempted rape. The subsequent year, he was acquitted of all 13 charges following a two-week trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. The women who brought forward the allegations against him, which originated from his tenure as first minister, comprised an SNP politician, a party employee, and several current and former Scottish government civil servants and officials. In his testimony to the court, Salmond asserted that the claims regarding his alleged conduct were “deliberate fabrications for a political purpose” or “exaggerations”. During his closing address to the jury, his lawyer stated that the former first minister “could certainly have been a better man” but had not committed any crimes. Subsequent to the trial, an inquiry investigated whether Sturgeon had violated the ministerial code, specifically examining if she had intervened in the civil service investigation concerning the Salmond allegations. James Hamilton’s report exonerated her of breaching the ministerial code, but noted that it was for parliament to determine if she had misled them.