Alex Salmond has branded the allegations against him as “ludicrous and insane fabrications” that are being used for a “political purpose”.
The former first minister took the stand for four hours on Tuesday to give evidence in his own defence against 13 charges involving nine women.
The 65-year-old accepted that some of the incidents detailed by the complainers had happened – but said they were being “mis-remembered” and they were being “taken out of all proportion”.
Salmond accused Woman H, a former Scottish Government official, of telling politically-motivated lies about an alleged attempted rape in Bute House in June 2013.
He denied there had been a struggle with civil servant Woman B in Bute House when he had asked her to recreate the pose of a couple kissing from a proposed Christmas card – saying it had been simply “high jinks” and was intended as “a joke”.
The former first minister condemned Scottish Government official Woman A’s testimony about grabbing her buttocks in an Edinburgh nightclub and inappropriate touching in Glasgow in June and July 2008 as “insane” and “fabrication from start to finish”.
And he branded the possibility of being able to put his hand on the knee of SNP politician Woman C during a car journey as “impossible” due to an armrest blocking the way.
Gordon Jackson QC, defending, questioned whether it appeared as if events were being treated “more seriously” years after they occurred.
Salmond, who stood predominantly with his right fist clenched against his chest with his other arm by his side while answering questions from his own defence team, said: “That’s correct.”
Mr Jackson asked: “Why do you think that is?”
Salmond said: “Two reasons. Some I can tell are deliberate fabrications for a political purpose. Some are exaggerations that have been taken out of all proportion and are being presented in a totally different way.
“I think people can get into the sausage machine and can’t get out even if they want to. In terms of one of the charges there is a legitimate grievance, even if it isn’t what actually happened.”
The incident referred to by Salmond was an encounter with civil servant Woman F in his Bute House bedroom in December 2013 where they had gone to do paperwork due to the rest of the building being cold.
The former first minister said both he and the woman were drinking and following the meeting she had sat on the bed to put her boots back on – denying a suggestion he had asked her to sit there.
Salmond said they then had a “sleepy cuddle” that lasted a “few seconds” before both got up.
An apology was later offered to Woman F by the then first minister during a meeting at his Scottish Parliament office.
Mr Jackson asked: “What were you apologising for?”
Salmond said: “I was the first minister, she was in my bedroom. We were tipsy, it shouldn’t have happened.
“I put her in a very embarrassing position, that was not right. She said to me ‘I was drinking’, I told her that I was the first minister and it was my responsibility.”
During his testimony, Salmond referenced a series of political accomplishments and engagements from his time in office – detailing successes from a trip to China that involved investment from PetroChina in Grangemouth and allowing Scottish salmon to be exported to the country, he told of “successful” phone calls to banking chiefs and mentioned a “sensitive” visit to a Ukranian community centre.
The former Gordon MP, who gave his current occupation as “journalist, TV presenter and retired politician”, also refused a suggestion that he was considering a political comeback at the time the allegations first became known to him in January 2018.
Salmond denied there was any “policy” to stop women working alone with him during evenings at Bute House.
The former Aberdeenshire East MSP also said there was “nothing sexual” about touching Scottish Government official Woman G – denying the accusation he touched her on the bottom and saying he was touching her on the back to tell her to “hurry up”.
He also denied there was anything inappropriate about an encounter with SNP party worker Woman J in Bute House in September 2014.
He said: “I put my arm round her to comfort her because I didn’t know why she was upset.”
And he refused to accept that he had touched Woman K on her buttocks while having a photograph taken in November 2014.
Mr Jackson asked: “It just didn’t happen?”
Salmond said: “No, it didn’t.”
The trial continues.